A southwest Iowa teen, accused in the attempted murder last year of two men in Adams County, was sentenced this week to 50 years in prison. A judge handed down the sentence Monday in Adams County District Court, against 17-year-old Daniel Beardsley.
Beardsley was convicted in connection with the May 17th, 2010, shooting of Brooks resident Matthew Herring and Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Swanson. His sentence included 25-years on each count, with both terms to be served consecutively. Beardsley will also serve two-year consecutive terms on four aggravated misdemeanors charges in connection with shots fired the same day at another four other law enforcement officers, and a 10-year sentence for 2nd degree robbery, in connection with the theft of a vehicle from the Clarinda Academy.
The terms will be served concurrent to the murder sentences. Beardsley will be eligible for parole in about 35 years. He currently resides at the State Correctional Facility at Oakdale. The incident which lead to his arrest began, after Beardsley, who was riding in the rear of a Clarinda Academy vehicle, assaulted a fellow academy student, and the vehicle’s driver.
Following the assault, he stole the vehicle and drove it to Brooks, where he shot Herring twice in the arm and once in the torso, after he arrived home early from work. When Deputy Swanson arrived on the scene, he suffered minor injuries as both he and his patrol car where fired upon. Beardsley peacefully surrendered to authorities after a three-hour standoff.
By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic