Lang
7/26/26
An inmate at the Johnson County Jail is accused of intentionally breaking a window at the facility.
Jailers say they noticed just after 11:00 Saturday night that the window in the cell of 32-year-old Lance Degen of Vinton had been shattered. Jail staff had spoken with Degen 20 minutes earlier and the window was fine. The block was in lock-down at the time the window was shattered, and Degen was the only person with access to it. The cost to repair the window is estimated at $750 to $1500.
Degen is charged with 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted, he faces a maximum of two years in jail.
Degen is currently awaiting a September trial on charges of 1st Degree Theft, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations Causing Bodily Injury, and Operating While Intoxicated – 2nd Offense after allegedly stealing a vehicle from CJ’s Construction on North Dubuque Street north of Iowa City last month, crashing it, and biting the responding officer.