Sac City Man Pleads Guilty in Assault on Former Sac County Sheriff

Matthew Birt of Sac City entered a written guilty plea in early February to two amended charges arising from an Aug. 25, 2025 assault on Jonathan Meyer, who was then serving as Sac County Sheriff. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, March 16, at the Buena Vista County courthouse.

Birt pleaded guilty to willful injury causing bodily injury, a Class D felony carrying a maximum of five years in prison, and assault on a peace officer, an aggravated misdemeanor carrying a maximum of two years. Both charges were reduced from the original counts he faced: willful injury resulting in serious injury and assault of a peace officer with intent to inflict serious injury, both Class C felonies that each carried up to 10 years in prison.

The assault unfolded in the backyard of Meyer's Sac City home. According to court documents, Birt punched, tackled, and attempted to strangle Meyer, and a witness reported hearing Birt tell Meyer he would "kill" him if Meyer ever talked to Birt's wife again. Witnesses told police Meyer did not fight back; a neighbor attempted to intervene. The attack left Meyer with a concussion, a fractured right orbital socket, a torn right ear, and extensive bruising to his face. Court documents note that Birt later admitted to the assault during an interview with authorities. He was arrested on Sept. 3, 2025.

The timing of the attack compounded its consequences for Sac County. Meyer had been appointed sheriff just a month before the assault, in July 2025, after former Sheriff Ken McClure retired following 30 years in the position. Meyer resigned days after the incident, citing personal reasons, and later returned to his previous rank of sergeant. The Sac County Board of Supervisors appointed Katie Stange as sheriff in late September 2025.

Because Sac County Attorney Ben Smith recused himself due to Meyer's position, Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn took over the prosecution. Under Iowa law, sheriffs are considered on duty at all times, a provision that factored into the assault-on-a-peace-officer charge even though Meyer was off duty when Birt came to his home.

Birt had previously pleaded not guilty and was released on a $35,000 bond while awaiting trial. The case was scheduled for trial in November 2025, rescheduled to January 2026, and continued again to May 2026 before the plea agreement was reached.