Hunter
10/18/23
A West Des Moines woman was sentenced this week for her alleged participation in a riot that damaged a University of Iowa frat house in 2021, although she won’t be spending any time in jail.
According to court documents, now 21-year-old Jayla Joseph was part of a large group of people who protested at Phi Gamma Delta the evening of August 31st after allegations of sexual assault among two of its members came to light. Video footage reportedly shows Joseph forcing her way through the front door while the frat house was still occupied. She is then seen holding property from inside the residence, including plaques and photos, and then destroying a large composite photo from the frat house.
Joseph allegedly admitted taking part in the protest.
Joseph originally entered a written plea of not guilty in July 2022; a jury trial was scheduled for October 18th last year, then delayed to December 13th, February 21st, April 11th, and August 1st before a plea deal was reached with prosecutors and Joseph pleaded guilty September 1st.
On Monday, Joseph was given a deferred judgement on 1st Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd Degree Burglary charges. A Rioting charge was dropped. Joseph was given three years of probation and ordered to serve 160 hours of community service.
She had faced up to twenty years in prison.
Less than two months after being part of the protest, she rendered life-saving actions in support of Marine Lance Cpl. Gabe Heefner who had been struck in the temple by a stray rifle round while driving on Highway 6 East on October 17th. She was given a commendation by the Marines in December of that year for her efforts after Heefner crashed at the intersection with Sycamore Street.
