A 2016 drug dispute in Ottumwa led to the kidnapping and assault conviction of Joel Enrique Herrarte Jr.
According to court records, the case began when two people arranged to buy drugs from Herrarte in February 2016. The buyers attempted to pay with construction paper wrapped around a $10 bill. After the deception was discovered, acquaintances of Herrarte located one of the individuals involved, identified in court records as A.W., and took her to a local motel.
Court records say Herrarte confined A.W. at the motel for several days while seeking payment for the drugs. During that time, Herrarte struck her, causing several facial fractures and significant bleeding.
Herrarte was originally charged with second-degree kidnapping, assault while participating in a felony, and willful injury. Following a bench trial, he was found guilty of third-degree kidnapping, assault while participating in a felony, and willful injury. He was sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping and five years each for the assault and willful-injury convictions, with the sentences ordered to be served consecutively.
Herrarte later challenged his conviction, arguing that his attorney had been ineffective in seeking a third-degree kidnapping conviction. In 2022, the Iowa Court of Appeals rejected that argument and upheld the conviction, finding that his attorney’s strategy was reasonable under the circumstances.
The Iowa Court of Appeals’ decision remains part of the public court record in the Wapello County case.
