Buena Vista Files Four New Felony Theft Charges Against Dan Winchell

Buena Vista County Attorney Paul Allen filed four new felony counts of "ongoing theft" on Monday, Feb. 9, against Daniel (Dan) Winchell, the former Holzhauer Motors dealer, expanding an investigation that already produced 10 counts in Cherokee County and raising the aggregate to 14 felony charges. Winchell faces arraignments in Cherokee County on Feb. 17 and a separate appearance in Buena Vista County on Feb. 23.

Prosecutors say the filings follow an extensive Iowa Department of Transportation investigation into dealer bookkeeping and title practices that spans 2024 and 2025. The counts allege Winchell withheld title and registration fees customers paid, did not forward those payments to county treasurers, and sold vehicles "out of trust" without repaying secured lenders. Investigators reported some customers later paid title or registration fees twice.

Cherokee County Attorney Ryan Kolpin previously filed 10 felony counts in his county; a paywalled court snippet attributes Kolpin as saying Winchell stole "multiple vehicles" six times in 2025. Court records cited in local reporting show Citizens First National Bank of Storm Lake obtained a judgment against Winchell after asserting the Holzhauer dealerships sold at least 80 vehicles without reimbursing the bank for secured loans.

Law enforcement activity and custody status differ across reports. One local account says Winchell, 64, was booked Monday into the Cherokee County Jail. Local reporting also provided two bond figures: some outlets reported Winchell is free on a $25,000 bond, while separate court paperwork cited by local reporters shows defense attorney Michael Kuehner of Des Moines asked a judge to reduce a $50,000 cash bond or release Winchell on a promise to appear. The court has not published a consolidated bond order in the materials reviewed here.

The allegations include specific lender losses and a civil judgment: Citizens First National Bank is identified in court records as a secured lender that later won a Cherokee County District Court judgment against Winchell. Prosecutors describe dozens of sales made "out of trust" and investigators say tax, title, and registration payments were retained rather than forwarded to county treasurers, a pattern alleged to have affected numerous Storm Lake-area customers during 2024 and 2025.

Winchell is represented by Michael Kuehner; the defense has moved on bond. The Iowa DOT's investigative role is cited in filings and local summaries as the basis for the duplicate county filings that now total 14 felonies across Cherokee and Buena Vista counties. Next procedural steps include the Cherokee County arraignment on Feb. 17 and the Buena Vista County appearance on Feb. 23, where charging documents and any bond rulings are expected to be entered on the record.