Tama Man Who Assaulted Daughter’s Boyfriend With a Shovel Sentenced to Federal Prison Has More than 30 Prior Criminal Convictions

A Tama man who hit another man with a shovel and who spit on and bit police officers was sentenced today to twelve months in prison.

Lucius Bear, age 42, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a May 16, 2019 guilty plea to assault by striking, beating, or wounding.

Information disclosed at sentencing and at his plea hearing showed that on February 17, 2019, Bear, while on the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Meskwaki Settlement, got into an argument with his daughter’s boyfriend.  Bear hit the boyfriend over the head with a garden shovel containing a metal blade.  This caused a large cut to the victim’s head, requiring fifteen staples to close. Officers who responded to the scene tried to take Bear into custody.  Bear fought with the officers, biting one on the arm and spitting on the other. 

Bear was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.  Bear was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment.  He was ordered to make payment of $25 to the special assessment fund.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Bear has over 30 prior criminal convictions, including two operating while intoxicated and some relating to violent assaults.