A Rock Valley man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a case involving an assault on a Sioux County jailer, operating while intoxicated, and methamphetamine possession.
Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle announced that 46-year-old Boby Sithavong was sentenced Monday, November 9th, in Sioux County District Court. The sentence also includes criminal fines and court costs.
The county attorney’s release lists assault on a person in a certain occupation with intent to inflict serious injury, second-offense operating while intoxicated, and first-offense possession of methamphetamine. The OWI offense is an aggravated misdemeanor, and the drug offense is a serious misdemeanor.
Assault at the Sioux County Jail
According to the county attorney’s office, Sithavong was taken to the Sioux County Jail following his August 17th arrest for OWI. While incarcerated, he punched a jailer in the face, left the cell, and continued the assault in the booking area near a metal bench. The assault caused the jailer’s head to strike the bench.
The jailer required medical attention. Kunstle’s office says surveillance video captured Sithavong making deliberate, aggressive movements to assault jailers.
In its August arrest announcement, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office also reported a separate assault later that day in which a deputy suffered bodily injury while helping correctional officers with another incident involving Sithavong.
Arrest Followed Motorcycle Crash
Court documents from the original arrest state that Sithavong arrived at the Rock Valley Police Department around 9:04 a.m. on August 17th after crashing his motorcycle in the 1300 block of Main Street and injuring himself.
Officers reported finding a small bag of methamphetamine concealed in his glove and observing signs of drug impairment. A preliminary breath test registered no alcohol.
According to the complaint, Sithavong initially agreed to a drug influence evaluation but stopped participating before it was completed. He also refused a requested urine sample for chemical testing.
