Sentence upheld for man who helped his son flee the country ahead of attempted murder trial

The appeals court upheld the sentence of the University of Iowa student’s father. helped his son escape the country while awaiting prosecution.

The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the sentence of Alfred Younes, 50, of O’Brien County, Iowa, who was sentenced to five years in prison for flying to evade prosecution charges, a Class “D” felony.

From August: Judge sets bail at $600K for former UI student accused of attempted murder and fled to Jordan

Alfred Younes’ son fled country after attempted murder charge

Ali Younes, the son of Alfred Younes, was arrested in April 2022 for attempted murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary after he allegedly choked a person in Iowa City on the University of Iowa campus, causing him to lose consciousness.

Ali Younes was placed under house arrest at her family’s home in O’Brien County in northwest Iowa and had to wear an ankle monitor while awaiting a trial scheduled for May 2023. A week before the trial, he fled first to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and then to Jordan. It led to a year-long manhunt led by FBMe and the Department of Homeland Security.

The appeals court said Alfred Younes sold the family’s car, rented a minibus and took his son to the airport so he could fly to Jordan. The appeal court decision stated that Alfred Younes lied to the police when asked about his son’s whereabouts, saying Ali was at home and “probably committed suicide.”

Alfred Younes also booked a one-way flight to Jordan and tried to flee the country but was caught at Omaha Airport in 2023.

More: Former UI student wanted for attempted murder flees country, father arrested in Omaha

Alfred Younes’ character appeal rejected

Alfred Younes argued that Johnson County District Court Judge Jason Burns relied solely on “community deterrence” in sentencing. Courts cannot rely on a single factor when sentencing.

The appeals court rejected Younes’ claim. In a brief four-page decision issued in late October, Court of Appeals Judge Paul Ahlers wrote that precedent “strongly” supports sentences that fall within “statutory limits” and “only an abuse of discretion or consideration of an improper factor.” In this case, Alfred Younes was charged with a Class “D” felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The punishment is within these legal limits.

Judge Burns wrote that the sentencing documents took into account the “nature and circumstances of the crime” and the “personal characteristics” of Alfred Younes.

Alfred Younes argued that his level of education, work history and lack of a criminal record should be taken into account when sentencing. The court rejected these claims.

“Although emphasizing the need for community deterrence in its reasoning, the court made clear that imprisonment was based on consideration of multiple sentencing factors,” Ahlers said. he wrote.

Lima Younes, wife of Alfred Younes and mother of Ali Younes, was arrested last May in Sioux County on a warrant from the University of Iowa Police Department. He was also charged with aiding and abetting the escape of Ali Younes.

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His son returned to the United States in August

Ali Younes returned to the United States in late August and was booked into the Johnson County jail in early September. The judge set bail for Ali Younes at $600,000.

If convicted, Ali Younes could face up to 60 years in prison for the three counts. The hearing of this case will be held on February 4, 2025.

Ali Younes also pleaded not guilty to escaping custody by a felon, a class “D” felony, for his escape to Jordan. A case management conference is planned for Friday.

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Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at: [email protected] or @ryanhansen01 on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article first appeared in the Iowa City Press-Citizen: Court upholds sentence for father who helped former UI student escape country