Orange City, Iowa — Two men were recently tried and convicted on felony and misdemeanor counts in separate incidents that happened in Sioux County earlier this year.
The first case involves an incident on September 20th of this year, in which Sioux County authorities received a report of an erratic driver. Deputies say they located the vehicle, which was being driven by 32-year old Stephen Dean Messelhiser of Le Mars. Authorities say their investigation indicated that Messelhiser was driving under the influence, and that he was in possession of five firearms that had been reported stolen from Sioux Falls.
According to a release from the Sioux County Attorney’s Office, Messelhiser was sentenced in Sioux County District Court, to a term of 5-years in prison for being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm, and 2-days in jail for OWI.
The second case also stemmed from a report of an erratic driver, driving backwards down the street, and driving across a residential lawn, back on June 25th. According to the Sioux County Attorney’s Office, when law enforcement made contact with the driver, 34-year old Benjamin De Jesus-Cruz, they reportedly found him to be in possession of nearly six ounces of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says De Jesus-Cruz was convicted in Sioux County District Court, and sentenced to 10-years in prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, and 2-days in jail for the OWI charge.
