A local man has received probation after pleading guilty to child endangerment for drag racing with two young children in his vehicle. He had also faced a more serious charge of causing serious injury by vehicle, which was later dismissed.
A Newton man has received a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to two counts of child endangerment for drag racing with his two young children in the car. Ryan John Smith, 41, was also facing a more serious charge of causing serious injury by vehicle, but that felony was dismissed by District Associate Judge Steven Holwerda. Instead, Smith was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay an $855 civil penalty for each count of child endangerment.
The incident happened on October 27, 2024, when Smith was reportedly racing a motorcycle on 1st Avenue East in Newton. According to the Iowa State Patrol, an SUV pulled out of a parking lot and was struck during the race. Authorities say both vehicles were traveling around 90 mph in a 35 mph zone. The motorcycle driver, who was not wearing a helmet, was airlifted to MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines with injuries. Thankfully, Smith, the children in his car, and the SUV’s occupants were not hurt.
