Ashley Thompson, age 38, from Tama, Iowa, was sentenced on April 14 to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault causing serious bodily injury.
Thompson admitted during her guilty plea on March 31, 2025, that she assaulted another woman with a piece of wooden wall trim at a home on the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama. The incident took place on January 14, 2024. During an argument involving several people, Thompson picked up a loose piece of trim and thrust it at the victim’s neck. A fragment broke off and became lodged in the victim’s neck.
Law enforcement responded to the scene where they found the victim struggling to breathe and losing consciousness. The victim was first transported to Marshalltown and then transferred to Des Moines for surgery. Medical staff found that the wood had come into contact with but did not pierce her jugular vein.
Court records show Thompson has a lengthy criminal history including four prior state court convictions for assault as well as convictions for child endangerment, operating while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, and theft. While detained in Polk County jail in February following her arrest for this case, she also assaulted another inmate by throwing hot water at her.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams handed down a sentence of 63 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Thompson will remain in United States Marshal’s custody until she is transferred to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Meskwaki Nation Police Department.
