A Carroll man accused of stabbing a Carroll bar owner was found guilty today (Monday) of willful injury causing serious injury, a class C felony. The Carroll Police Department arrested forty-two-year-old John Michael Hanson on Aug. 27 following an early morning incident outside Kerps Tavern in the 200 block of E. 5th Street. Hanson’s bench trial was held on Nov. 28 at the Carroll County Courthouse, and a district judge found Hanson had stabbed the victim, Ben Badding, four times in the neck and head with intent to cause serious injury. Badding needed to be airlifted to a Des Moines Hospital for emergency surgery due to injuries sustained in the attack. Fortunately, Badding has made a near-full recovery, but he was left with scarring from his wounds. Hanson will remain in custody at the Carroll County jail until his sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 29. A class C felony in Iowa carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
