As expected, Michael Lang of Grundy Center was sentenced to life in prison on Monday without the possibility of parole for killing Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith in April 2021. He was also sentenced to 25 years for Attempt to Commit Murder, and five years, along with a $1,015 fine, for Assault on a Peace Officer with Intent of Injury. Judge Joel Dalrymple ordered his sentences to run consecutively, although moot due to the life sentence. Lang will also be required to pay $150,000 in restitution to Kathy Smith, Sergeant Smith’s wife. Before impact statements were heard and Lang was sentenced, his attorneys requested a new trial, arguing that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he was guilty and the court failed to instruct the jury on self-defense. The court rejected that argument, saying that self-defense is not applicable.
