A former Keokuk County Sheriff’s deputy was found guilty of 13 felony counts of child endangerment with bodily injury or serious injury, and his request for a new trial has been denied by the court. Following a six-day trial in September, the verdict was announced and 33-year old David Heady Jr. was found guilty. A motion was filed on October 8th for a new trial and arrest of judgment. On Thursday, October 15th, the request was denied and dismissed, and the court will move forward with sentencing. 

The original charges were filed following a hayrack ride crash that happened near What Cheer two years ago, on October 14th, 2023. According to court documents, Heady and Daniel Brubaker were allegedly operating a vehicle with a goose-neck trailer carrying middle school-aged students and it was done so in a “negligent manner, causing the truck and trailer to go into a ditch, thus throwing the middle-school-aged riders throughout the road.” 

Heady is currently being held in the Mahaska County Jail. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

Related to the case, 36-year old Brubaker plead guilty to three charges of neglect of a dependent person and 10 counts of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, all felony counts. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.