Todays News

Three men involved in Nicholson-Ford Park shooting reach plea deals

Three men who were involved in a shooting at Nicholson-Ford Park on the northeast side of Marshalltown have reached plea deals, and one of them was recently arrested for violating the conditions of his release.

Nicholas Lee Olivares, 20, of Aplington, was originally charged with a total of seven counts -- attempt to commit murder and two counts of first degree robbery, all Class B felonies, willful injury, two counts of assault while participating in a felony and going armed with intent, all Class D felonies. On Feb. 23, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree robbery, both Class C felonies, willful injury -- causing bodily injury and going armed with intent, both Class D felonies, and assault causing bodily injury or mental illness and possession of marijuana second offense, both aggravated misdemeanors. The attempted murder charge was ultimately dismissed.

Olivares was sentenced to a total prison term not to exceed 20 years with a mandatory minimum of seven years. He was subsequently arrested at the Marshall County Jail on Jan. 20 for assaulting another inmate with a heavy duty hardened plastic cup and pleaded guilty to that offense on March 14.

About 3 ½ weeks after Olivares was arrested, Kinnick Youngblut of Fairbank and Gavin Jebe of Waterloo were charged in connection with the same incident along with two juveniles. In late March, Jebe, 19, pleaded guilty to first degree theft, a Class C felony, two counts of assault while participating in a felony, both Class D felonies and possession of marijuana first offense, a serious misdemeanor. Two counts of first degree robbery were dropped as well as a failure to affix drug tax stamp charge. He was sentenced to a total term of incarceration not to exceed 15 years.

Youngblut, 19, was scheduled to stand trial for two counts of first degree robbery, one count of second degree theft, a controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug tax stamp in April, but he agreed to plead guilty to second degree theft and possession with intent to deliver marijuana/THC, both Class D felonies, on March 16. His sentencing is currently scheduled for May 22, but on Tuesday, a warrant was issued to revoke his pretrial release, and he was taken back into custody on Friday with no bond.

According to previous reporting in the T-R, a gunshot victim arrived at the local UnityPoint Health hospital on Aug. 26, 2025, and MPD officers and detectives were dispatched to speak to the victim, who indicated that they had been shot a short time before while another victim was struck in the head with a handgun. A criminal complaint indicated that the suspects intended to rob the victim of THC vapes.