DES MOINES, Iowa – The Des Moines metro man who shot at eastern Iowa police officers during a February hours-long standoff will spend 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
Christopher Kern was accused of breaking into the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and stealing his dog back in February. Des Moines police learned that he had gone to Cedar Rapids and after police there tried to take him into custody he barricaded himself in an apartment, where officials said he fired on Cedar Rapids Police Department officers and they fired back.
Fire ravages Newton’s Moose Lodge
After a lengthy negotiation, Kern was taken into custody.
Multiple charges were dropped in the case and earlier this month Kern pleaded guilty to three charges of attempted murder of a peace officer. Kern was sentenced last week in the case. The plea deal means he must serve 100% of his 50-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Prior to the plea deal in the shooting, while still in custody in Linn County, Kern also attempted to escape when he was being led back to a vehicle following a dentist appointment. He struck a plea deal in that case as well, pleading guilty to assault on persons engaged in certain occupations. He was sentenced to 10 days in the Linn County Jail in that case…