Trial Pushed Back for Northeast Iowa Man Accused of Shooting at Peace Officers

After three ties for a trial scheduling conference, trial for a northeast Iowa man charged with attempted murder of four peace officers has been pushed back by three months.

46-year-old Mark Zweibohmer faces four counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, including Howard County Sheriff Rick Busch, deputies Ben Hillyer and Jake Hofstra, and Iowa State Patrol trooper Wyatt Ronnebaum. 

The Iowa Department of Public Safety alleges that Zweibohmer called law enforcement on May 28th to conduct a welfare check at his residence near Elma. When they arrived, he allegedly shot at officers, who returned fire. There were no injuries.

Zweibohmer, who plans to use a defense of insanity and/or diminished responsibility, has pleaded not guilty to the Class B felonies. A psychiatric evaluation by Dr. Tracy A. Thomas gave the opinion that Zweibohmer “suffered from psychiatric issues which lead to diminished responsibility in that he is unable to form intent to commit the crimes of which he is charged.”   

His trial was scheduled for February 4, 2026, in Howard County District Court. However, In October, the state and defense agreed to continue the trial, with a scheduling conference set for November 21st. That hearing did not occur and another was set for December 12th, but then continued to last Friday (12.19), when Judge Kellyann Lekar reset Zweibohmer’s trial date for May 6, 2026.                                                                     

Zweibohmer’s trial attorney, Judith O’Donohoe of Charles City, has filed for a change of venue while also claiming the display of law enforcement force, which also included Cresco Police and the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, was to portray Zweibohmer as a very dangerous person and was a “show for the public.”           

There has been no ruling or hearing on the change of venue request and Zweibohmer remains held in the Winneshiek County Jail on $200,000 cash bond.                       

For now, Zweibohmer remains scheduled for a February 4, 2026 trial date for his September 2024 arrest on charges including third degree burglary, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, eluding, OWI, operating a vehicle without owner’s consent, and five counts of harassment.  He is also pursuing an insanity/diminished capacity defense in that case.