List Entire Thread

Iowa man who pulled down his mask and spat on grocery store customer who complained that he wasn't covering his nose is jailed for 10 YEARS

An Iowa man assaulted another man who called him out for wearing his mask incorrectly before removing his mask and spitting in the victim's face

Shane Wayne Michael was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday for the November 2020 attack

'If I have it, you have it!' Shane Wayne Michael told Mark Dinning after the disgusting attack, implying he had infected him with the COVID-19 virus

Michael claims he was only defending himself from Dinning, however witnesses at the eyewear store told police Michael was the aggressor

Michael rejected a plea deal that would have meant just two years of probation, instead he opted to go to trial where a jury found him guilty of a higher offense

The 42-year-old was found guilty on April 1 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday

His family members have spoken out against the harshness of Michael's sentencing in relation to the crime

By MATT MCNULTY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 11:10 EDT, 13 June 2021 | UPDATED: 12:26 EDT, 13 June 2021

An Iowa man who assaulted another man for calling him out for wearing his face mask incorrectly has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after removing it entirely and spitting in the victim's face.

'If I have it, you have it!' Shane Wayne Michael told Mark Dinning after the disgusting attack, implying he had infected him with the COVID-19 virus.

Both men were at the Vision 4 Less eyewear store in Des Moines on November 11 of last year when Dinning allegedly asked the 42-year-old to secure his face mask over his nose as Michael had pulled his mask down slightly, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

The 'Iowa Man', Shane Wayne Michael was arrested for assault. I suspect that he believes as many Trumplicans here post, that the mask is an unreasonable imposition on his rights.

Excerpt from the article illustrates the attacker's offensive attitude- "The victim also said that Michael coughed in his face, spit on him and said "'If I have it, you have it,'" according to the report."

Polk County man convicted of assault during November face mask dispute sentenced to 10 years in prison

A man convicted of following a man to a car and assaulting him after being told to raise the mask on his face in November was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday.

Shane Wayne Michael, 42, of Saylor Township was arrested and charged after the Nov. 11 assault at the Vision 4 Less eyewear at 3945 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines. A jury convicted Michael of willful injury causing serious injury last month.

According to a criminal complaint, Michael followed the victim out of the business early that afternoon. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that Michael was wearing his mask down slightly and had his nose exposed. The victim asked Michael to correct the positioning of his mask, according to the story. A police report said Michael told police they then "exchanged words."

Michael told police the victim shoulder-checked him into a vehicle and jabbed his thumb into Michael's stomach. Michael told police that he then held the victim on the ground to defend himself. The victim then bit Michael's left arm, according to the police report, so Michael jabbed his left finger into the victim's left eye.

The victim told police that, as he walked to his car, Michael cornered him, began to assault him and took him to the ground. While on the ground, Michael began gouging the victim's eye and kneed him in the genitals, according to the report, so the victim bit Michael to get him off of him.

The victim also said that Michael coughed in his face, spit on him and said "'If I have it, you have it,'" according to the report.

Three witnesses identified Michael as the aggressor in the fight, according to the complaint. The victim suffered a swollen left eye, according to the complaint and court records.

Philip Joens covers breaking news for The Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-443-3347 at pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.