Evergreen Reporter

A jury in Sioux City convicted Lennox Vanvacter, 31, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, for illegal possession of a firearm on October 10, 2024. The conviction came after a three-day trial and approximately seven hours of jury deliberation.

The incident leading to the conviction occurred on July 30, 2023. Law enforcement officers observed Vanvacter driving and attempted to stop him due to an active arrest warrant related to a previous eluding charge. When officers activated emergency lights and sirens, Vanvacter engaged in a high-speed chase lasting about 30 minutes. The pursuit reached speeds over 70 mph within Fort Dodge and exceeded 100 mph outside city limits in Webster County. Officers eventually stopped the vehicle using spike strips. After stopping, Vanvacter tried to flee on foot but was captured shortly thereafter.

During the investigation, officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol near where the vehicle stopped. Patrol car camera footage later confirmed that the firearm was thrown from the vehicle at the end of the chase.

Vanvacter is awaiting sentencing by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand after a presentence report is prepared. He remains in custody pending sentencing and faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.

Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde is prosecuting the case with investigations conducted by multiple agencies including the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and Fort Dodge Police Department.

Court file information can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl under case number 23-3037.

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