Four UI students charged in connection with 30 acts of criminal mischief against victim

Hillary Ojeda | Press Citizen

Four University of Iowa students were charged with criminal mischief in connection to 30 acts directed against a victim over the course of two months.

All four of the students live in the same residence hall on campus and allegedly started carrying out acts against the victim on Sept. 10 and as late as Nov. 1, according to UI Department of Public Safety complaints.

Jade M. Ballard, 18, shouted a vulgar comment outside of the victim's door on Oct. 27 and shouted out a name linked with the victim while walking past their door again on Oct. 30, according to a complaint.

On Nov. 1 Ballard allegedly kicked the victim's door on two occasions and told others to "f--- with this kid."

Police say Ballard admitted to tearing down a sign from the victim's door.

Ballard and "co-defendants are suspects in approximately thirty acts of criminal mischief to the same victim," according to the complaint.

And despite being told to stop, Ballard allegedly continued to behave this way. Police say his behavior caused the victim to feel terrorized and frightened.

Ballard was arrested Tuesday afternoon and released Wednesday morning. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief, a simple misdemeanor, and stalking, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Three other students, Zachary B. Pluff, DeAndre E. Stapleton, Jr. and Kaitlyn M. Faber, were issued summons to appear in court for the simple misdemeanor charges they face.

Pluff faces four counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief; Stapleton faces three counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief and one count of third-degree harassment; and Faber faces one count of fifth-degree criminal mischief.

Police say Pluff tore down a sign from the victim's door four times between Sept. 10 and Oct. 31.

Stapleton allegedly admitted to tearing down a sign from the victim's door three times between Sept. 19 and Oct 1. Weeks later on Oct. 25, Stapleton caused the victim to feel fear by following the victim to a private home in Iowa City, according to a complaint.

On Oct. 26, Faber allegedly "conspired with a co-defendant to tear down a sign on the victim's door by telling a co-defendant" to take it down, the report says.

University of Iowa Assistant Director of Media Relations Hayley Bruce said the incident is still under investigation.

Stapleton and Pluff are both on the UI Track team.

Assistant Athletics Director Steve Roe said, in an emailed statement, that the department is aware of the allegations against both student-athletes.

"As members of the UI Athletics Department, the student-athletes are subject to the rules and regulations of the Student Athlete Code of Conduct," it reads. "They have been indefinitely suspended from all team and athletic department activities throughout the investigation."

Reach Hillary Ojeda at 319-339-7345, hojeda@press-citizen.com or follow her on Twitter at @hillarymojeda