Hunter
12/09/25
A West Branch man was arrested on a warrant stemming from a domestic assault earlier this month.
According to court documents, 26-year-old Ryland Oaks of Lincoln Street was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by the mother of their shared child as she drove on Interstate 80 between Iowa City and West Branch. Oaks was reportedly angry and threatened to hit the woman, then attempted to jump out of the moving vehicle.
The woman attempted to slow down and pull over to keep Oaks from jumping out, and he allegedly became irate and punched her in the right temple. He then to “beat the ess out of her” if she told anyone their business.
The couple’s two-year-old child was in the vehicle; they reportedly became emotionally distressed and cried uncontrollably.
The victim told police she still had a headache hours after the incident.
A check of Oaks’ criminal record reportedly turned up two previous assault convictions out of Cedar County, the most recent being August of 2024.
A warrant was issued and Oaks was booked into the Johnson County Jail Sunday afternoon. He faces charges of Domestic Abuse Assault 3rd or subsequent Offense, 2nd degree Harassment, and Child Endangerment. He could be sentenced to up to 8 years in prison if convicted; a no-contact order was issued by Judge Jason Burns on Monday.