Creston man sentenced to 30 years for vehicular homicide

A Creston man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for charges stemming from an accident Feb. 4, 2024, which killed Jonathan D. Taylor, 42, of Adel, in Madison County.

As part of a plea agreement, Charles K. Lohoff, 32, withdrew his not guilty plea and entered guilty pleas to the charges of homicide by vehicle - operating under the influence, a Class B felony, and the amended charge of leaving the scene an accident causing serious injury, a Class D felony.

A Madison County judge sentenced Lohoff April 27 to serve not more than 25 years for count one and five years for count two, consecutively. He was given credit for 34 days served in the Madison County Jail prior to his sentencing.

As part of the plea agreement the amended charge of leaving the scene was lowered from causing death to causing serious injury. This change removed the 70% mandatory minimum for the charge. There is no specific amount of time required to be served before he is eligible for release.

The courts reasoning for the sentence included Lohoff’s prior record, the time most likely to rehabilitate him based on the nature of the offense and recommendations of the parties involved. The sentence was ran consecutively due to the seriousness of the crime.

Lohoff was the driver of a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado that law enforcement said struck a telephone pole in the 1000 block of Pitzer Road, killing Taylor, a passenger in the truck.

Data obtained from the truck showed a speed of 110 mph right before the crash and a speed of 90 mph upon collision with the pole. When the truck was found with the deceased passenger, the driver was missing.

Lohoff was found at a farmhouse just north of the scene of the accident. He told deputies he knew that Taylor was not OK when he left the truck. Lohoff exhibited multiple signs of impairment. A chemical test of his blood, drawn more than four hours after the accident, was positive for marijuana and showed his BAC to be .05%.

Conditions of Lohoff’s sentence include a revocation of his driving privileges for six years, including no possibility of a temporary restricted license for at least two years. He is required to participate in a reality education substance use disorder prevention program and must complete a 12-hour drinking drivers course. Lohoff also has to have a substance abuse evaluation and comply with all recommended treatment. Judgement was imposed for restitution to include fines, penalties and surcharges as well as victim restitution.

Lohoff’s term of incarceration may be reduced from the maximum sentence due to statutory earned time, work credits and program credits, causing him to be eligible for parole before the sentence is discharged.

Lohoff was committed to the immediate custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections and was ordered to be transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale for processing.