Charges have been reduced to a simple misdemeanor for two cybersecurity workers who were arrested after breaking into an Iowa courthouse last month as part of a security test conducted by state court administrators. Court records show County Attorney Charles Sinnard asked a district court judge Friday to reduce the charge from felony burglary to a trespass charge. Officials say 29-year-old Justin Wynn, of Naples, Florida, and 43-year old Gary Demercurio, of Seattle, work for Westminster, Colorado-based cybersecurity company Coalfire. The company contracted with judiciary officials to conduct security tests at Iowa courthouses and the state court building. State court officials admitted they made mistakes and apologized. Wynn and Demercurio were caught inside the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel after midnight Sept. 11 and arrested. Sinnard's motion says he's reducing the charges based on newly discovered evidence. He said Monday in an email that the charge better fits the facts of this case. Judge Terry Rickers approved the change Friday and set a Nov. 6 hearing for both men.Wynn and DeMercurio’s attorney, Matthew Lindholm, of the West Des Moines Law Firm, Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm has released the following statement: "Mr. Wynn and Mr. DeMercurio were simply doing the job they were hired to do and did it well. They committed no crime and will not rest until their names are cleared. The mere filing of the accusations has and will continue to have a profound negative impact on their professional careers and potentially the State of Iowa’s ability to contract such work in the future. Mr. Wynn and Mr. DeMercurio find themselves caught at the center of a power struggle in which certain County authorities have felt slighted by the Iowa Judicial Branch. Unfortunately, the County has seized upon these gentlemen’s successful performance of their jobs as an opportunity to settle a score instead of focusing on the clearly deficient security being provided to the courthouse and the confidential and sensitive information therein."Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice apologizes over courthouse burglariesDeputies believe same suspects burglarized two Iowa courthouses

Charges have been reduced to a simple misdemeanor for two cybersecurity workers who were arrested after breaking into an Iowa courthouse last month as part of a security test conducted by state court administrators.

Court records show County Attorney Charles Sinnard asked a district court judge Friday to reduce the charge from felony burglary to a trespass charge.


Officials say 29-year-old Justin Wynn, of Naples, Florida, and 43-year old Gary Demercurio, of Seattle, work for Westminster, Colorado-based cybersecurity company Coalfire. The company contracted with judiciary officials to conduct security tests at Iowa courthouses and the state court building.

State court officials admitted they made mistakes and apologized.

Wynn and Demercurio were caught inside the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel after midnight Sept. 11 and arrested.

Sinnard's motion says he's reducing the charges based on newly discovered evidence. He said Monday in an email that the charge better fits the facts of this case.

Judge Terry Rickers approved the change Friday and set a Nov. 6 hearing for both men.

Wynn and DeMercurio’s attorney, Matthew Lindholm, of the West Des Moines Law Firm, Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm has released the following statement:

"Mr. Wynn and Mr. DeMercurio were simply doing the job they were hired to do and did it well. They committed no crime and will not rest until their names are cleared. The mere filing of the accusations has and will continue to have a profound negative impact on their professional careers and potentially the State of Iowa’s ability to contract such work in the future.

Mr. Wynn and Mr. DeMercurio find themselves caught at the center of a power struggle in which certain County authorities have felt slighted by the Iowa Judicial Branch. Unfortunately, the County has seized upon these gentlemen’s successful performance of their jobs as an opportunity to settle a score instead of focusing on the clearly deficient security being provided to the courthouse and the confidential and sensitive information therein."

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice apologizes over courthouse burglaries

Deputies believe same suspects burglarized two Iowa courthouses