Hawarden, Iowa — A Hawarden couple faces charges of Dependent Adult Abuse following an investigation into an incident that allegedly took place during a February weekend.
Court documents indicate that during the weekend of February 21st through 23rd, a dependent adult who resides at Hope Haven in Le Mars, and is authorized to leave with a responsible caretaker, was spending a weekend furlough at a Hawarden residence. According to the criminal complaint, she was allegedly provided alcoholic beverages and marijuana by the weekend caretakers, Michael and Shelda Hook. The Criminal Complaint goes on to allege that Sheldon Hook had become upset because the dependent adult was unable to properly care for herself, and Ms. Hook allegedly threw her to the ground. At one point, Ms. Hook is accused of forcefully slamming the victim’s head into the home’s washer and dryer units.
According to court records, when the Hooks returned the victim to Hope Haven at the end of the weekend furlough, the victim complained that she had been assaulted and received medical services, where bruising was allegedly on her legs and a large lump on her head. According to authorities, both injuries were consistent with the complaint that the victim had been assaulted.
Sioux County Jail records indicate that the Hooks were arrested Tuesday, March 31st by Hawarden Police. Shelda Hook is charged with Dependent Adult Abuse Causing Intentional Serious Injury, a Class C Felony for her part in the alleged incident. For his part, Michael Hook was charged with Dependent Adult Abuse Causing Reckless Physical Injury, which is an Aggravated Misdemeanor.
