Four Johnston Teens Charged In September Assault Enter Plea

Four teenagers charged with sexually assaulting a Johnston High School classmate were arraigned in Polk County District Court Monday. Each entered a plea of not guilty in connection with the Sept. 8 incident and a trial date was set for the defendants.

The victim was reportedly assaulted at the home of Morgan Hough, 18, who is one of the defendants in the case. He and Ritter Stahlbaum, 17, have been charged with second-degree sexual abuse, first-degree robbery, and felony assault by penetration of the genitalia, while Kaden Dishman and Noah Lamar, both 15, were charged with first-degree robbery and felony assault by penetration of the genitalia, WHO-TV reported.

A pre-trial date of Dec. 14 was set for all four defendants, with a trial scheduled for Jan. 22.

WHO reported that Dishman and Lamar have reached plea agreements with the state to drop two of their four charges and proceed with the remaining two charges in adult court. Under the agreement they would be monitored by juvenile court officials until age 18. The TV station also reported that only Lamar's plea date was set. That is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17.

The teens were arrested Sept. 28 at Johnston High School. All four are free on bond.

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