Steve McFadden, Des Moines bar owner accused of stalking, arrested again
Bar owner Steve McFadden was arrested Friday for violating a no-contact order involving an ex-girlfriend he was accused of stalking.
McFadden, 53, was charged in January with one count of stalking, an aggravated misdemeanor, and five counts of unauthorized use of a GPS tracking device, all serious misdemeanors, after allegedly planting the global positioning device in the ex-girlfriend's car. McFadden, an owner in Tipsy Crow, Grumpy Goat and Dough Mama's Pizzeria, also is alleged to have conspired with Edwin Allen III, owner of Zora Bar & Rooftop on Ingersoll Avenue, to track the woman to Paws and Pints, a Des Moines bar and dog park.
Court records show McFadden allegedly called the ex-girlfriend the day before he was scheduled to plead not guilty in Polk County District Court, and she recognized his number and reported the contact. While Allen pleaded not guilty, McFadden's arraignment hearing Thursday was continued because the judge had not had time to read through the trial information filed that morning.
McFadden was booked at about 7:40 p.m. Friday on the new charge of violating a no-contact order. He was given a $2,000 cash-only bond on the violation charge. On Saturday, the county attorney's office asked to revoke his pretrial release, court records show.
When reached Saturday, McFadden's lawyer, William Kutmus, said he needs to discuss with his client before he can comment.
A hearing is scheduled for March 22. If the judge finds he violated the no-contact order, McFadden must serve at least seven days in jail, according to Polk County court records.
Each violation of a no-contact order can be punished as a simple misdemeanor with a maximum possible sentence of 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $855. A violation also can be considered contempt of court with a maximum possible sentence of 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. McFadden was charged with contempt, which can result in the greater jail sentence.
Both Allen and McFadden have been at the center of public controversy since their arrests.
McFadden was convicted last year of assault causing injury involving another ex-girlfriend, Victoria Davis, who was 22 when she began dating him and now is 26. In early 2022, he took what’s called an Alford plea, admitting no guilt but acknowledging there was enough evidence to convict him at trial. The count was a misdemeanor, and he was ordered to serve a year on probation. After completing a six-week domestic abuse program, he was released from probation and, under a deferred judgment, the conviction was removed from his record.
More:Woman allegedly beaten by bar owner describes going back to him, says it was a mistake
Since that time, Davis has sought to lift a restraining order McFadden obtained against her last year. She alleges he’s trying to manipulate and control her through the legal system.
The two are scheduled to go to trial March 28 for allegedly violating the restraining order. In an interview last month, Davis described to Watchdog domestic violence she said she suffered in her relationship with McFadden. She also gave an account of another assault she said took place Jan. 1 in Key West, Florida, where McFadden had convinced her to go with him despite the restraining order. They were arrested on their return to Des Moines.
The IRS also is seeking to recover what it said are unpaid taxes from McFadden. It currently has two federal tax liens worth almost $520,000 against his home in West Des Moines, county records show. The home, which had been for sale with a multi-million-dollar price tag, now is off the market.
Register reporter Francesca Block contributed to this story.
Lee Rood's Reader's Watchdog column helps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits. Reach her at lrood@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8549, on Twitter at @leerood or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Steve McFadden, Des Moines bar owner accused of stalking, arrested again
