Dallas County pays $600,000 after its sheriff jailed the courthouse security testers
In September 2019, Coalfire Labs testers Gary DeMercurio and Justin Wynn, hired by the Iowa Judicial Branch to test courthouse security, set off an alarm at the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel. After officers checked their authorization, then-Sheriff Chad Leonard arrived and ordered them jailed; they were held nearly 20 hours before charges were dropped. They sued Dallas County and Leonard for false arrest and defamation. On January 21, 2026, days before trial, the defendants agreed to pay $600,000, according to the plaintiffs' attorney. Leonard is no longer sheriff; the settlement does not say who funds the payment. County Attorney Matt Schultz said that if a similar situation happens again he will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
We told you from the get-go that we didn't do anything wrong.
In return for a Release and Dismissal of their lawsuit, the Defendants will pay Gary and Justin $600,000.
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Said that if a similar situation happens again he will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
Not yet contacted for this story.
No outcome recorded yet.