PHOTO COURTESY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

GRUNDY CENTER – A Grundy County man and woman were arrested earlier this month and charged with a slew of felonies and misdemeanors following an investigation by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office into a December 2024 laser strike on an Iowa National Guard helicopter.

John Paul Weber, 60, of Reinbeck, and Christina Dawn Westberg, 51, of Dike and formerly of Reinbeck, were arrested on April 8 at Weber’s rural Reinbeck residence located southeast of Dike.

Both made separate initial appearances on April 9 in Grundy County District Court. Weber was charged with one Class B felony for controlled substance violation (1); two Class D felonies for failure to affix a drug tax stamp (2) and possession or control of a firearm by domestic assault offender (3); two aggravated misdemeanors for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (4, 5); and three serious misdemeanors for possession of a controlled substance – 1st offense (6), unlawful possession of prescription drugs (7), and possession of a controlled substance – marijuana 2nd offense (8).

Westberg was charged with one Class B felony for controlled substance violation (1); two Class D felonies for failure to affix a drug tax stamp (2) and possession or control of a firearm by domestic assault offender (3); and three serious misdemeanors for unlawful possession of prescription drugs (4), possession of a controlled substance – marijuana first offense (5), and possession of a controlled substance – 1st offense (6).

Both defendants had bail set at $20,000 cash or surety; they have since bonded out and will be supervised by Pretrial Services.

John Paul Weber booking photo. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

The arrests stem from an incident alleged to have taken place over Corn Beef Feedlot Inc. located between Reinbeck and Dike.

According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 18, 2024, just before 8 p.m., the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office took a report from the Iowa National Guard for “a green laser strike to their helicopter while flying over” 32576 200th St. near Reinbeck – the location of Corn Beef Feedlot. The investigating deputy subsequently obtained maps from the Iowa National Guard indicating the location where Weber was allegedly standing when his laser “struck the helicopter not just once, but twice within a span of a couple minutes.”

The deputy contacted one of the owners of Corn Beef Feedlot; Weber had been working for the entity.

“The owner stated the defendant was the only one at the farm at the time of the laser strike. The owner provided … video footage of the defendant leaving the farm with his lights off shortly after the laser strikes.”

The criminal complaint further states that Weber allegedly admitted to having pointed the laser in the sky. The complaint then expounded on the dangerous nature of such strikes:

Christina Dawn Westberg booking photo. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

“A laser strike to a helicopter during the night time is extremely dangerous to the pilot and the crew members. Temporary blindness, permanent blindness and disorientation can result from a laser strike. The glass on the helicopter when hit by a laser makes the laser refract off the glass. Additionally, laser strikes to night vision goggles can harm the night vision goggles to the point of them not working anymore. The defendant has no other reason other than to inflict serious injury or death upon the persons in the helicopter when he laser struck the helicopter.”

A laser again struck an Iowa National Guard helicopter on April 3, but this time from Weber’s own residence at 32680 200th St., Reinbeck, per the criminal complaint.

On April 8, deputies from the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant of Weber’s residence where Westberg was “known to live.” During the search, deputies found a black laser pointer that emits a green laser located inside a red Ford F-150. Weber allegedly admitted the laser pointer was the item in question.

According to a Grundy County Sheriff’s Office press release dated April 10 announcing the arrests of Weber and Westberg, the Iowa National Guard was not the only recent laser strike report in the area.

“In addition, the sheriff’s office was notified that local hunters received laser strikes while hunting near the Weber residence,” the press release states.

A search warrant for Weber’s residence was recently issued, resulting in the charges against both him and Westberg. During the April 8 search, more than seven grams of methamphetamine were allegedly found near Westberg’s purse; several used clear plastic bags with meth residue and scales were also found. Both Weber and Westberg allegedly admitted to deputies that they were methamphetamine users.

Also located in the house, bongs, meth and marijuana pipes with burnt residue, dried up plant material (magic mushrooms), marijuana, marijuana wax, THC vapes, amphetamine tablets, two 12-gauge shotguns, and a 17 HMR rifle with ammunition.

As of press time, Westberg had waived her right to a preliminary hearing and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. She is being represented by Jennie L. Wilson-Moore of Conrad at the public’s expense.

Weber’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 19 at 1:30 p.m. No attorney was listed for Weber as of press time; his application for appointment of counsel was denied during his initial hearing.