Final Sentences Issued in Franklin County Memorial Plaque Theft Case

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Iowa — The final two defendants in a case involving stolen memorial plaques in Franklin County have now been sentenced.

Rachel Card, 32, of Hampton, and Lauren Johnson, 35, of Dumont, both entered guilty pleas to aiding and abetting third-degree theft. The two were arrested along with Joshua Dime Sellers of Manly and Brandon S. Smith of Hampton in connection with the thefts.

Authorities say the four individuals stole bronze memorial plaques from boulders, historical sites, and veterans’ gravestones across at least six cemeteries in Franklin County. According to law enforcement, the plaques were altered by removing identifying details, cut into pieces, and sold to a salvage business in Sheffield.

Card and Johnson were each sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on supervised probation for two years.

Sellers previously entered an Alford plea to theft by possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to 245 days in jail, with credit for time served, along with two years of supervised probation.

Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and first-degree criminal mischief and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

As part of the restitution, Johnson has been ordered to pay $30,305.49 in damages jointly with Sellers and Smith. Card has been ordered to pay $15,152.74 in damages, also jointly with Sellers and Smith.