Two men, one juvenile charged in Iowa City bar fight

IOWA CITY — Two men and a juvenile were charged Thursday in connection with a large fight outside a downtown bar early Saturday during which three people were stabbed.

Iowa City police said 10 or more people were involved in a fight about 1:55 a.m. Saturday in the 300 block of South Gilbert Street that spilled into the street.

Multiple people fled when officers arrived. The three individuals who were stabbed — police declined to identify them — were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and are expected to recover, authorities said.

Lake Newton, 21, of West Liberty, faces charges of willful injury causing serious injury and of participating in a riot, both felonies.

Victor Torres Molina, 28, of Iowa City, faces charges of assault while participating in a felony and of participating in the riot, both felonies.

The juvenile faces one charge of participating in a riot.

The criminal complaint stated Newton was participating in the fight and was seen on multiple witnesses’ videos throwing punches, holding one victim so he could be attacked and body-slamming the victim and throwing that person to the ground, knocking him unconscious, according to a criminal complaint.

Newton is accused of then stabbing the victim numerous times. Officers recovered broken glasses at the scene that matched photos of Newton on social media, according to the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint stated Torres Molina was participating in the fight and was identified by numerous witnesses and a video showing him kicking a person on the ground. He admitted to kicking a person on the ground but denied stabbing anyone, according to a complaint.

Police said additional arrests are expected.

Torres Molina on Thursday remained in the Johnson County Jail under a $10,000 bail. Newton posted a $15,000 bail and was released.

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