Man Pleads Guilty To Polk County Charge Of Homicide By Intoxicated Use Of Vehicle

POLK COUNTY -- The Court has accepted a plea of Guilty from Michael Barkema, of Iowa, on his charge of Class D Felony Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle. The charge was filed against Barkema following a fatal crash that occurred in February 2020.

Barkema was operating a Chevrolet Silverado pulling a trailer and collided with a Saturn Ion. The female driver of the Saturn Ion was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. Barkema told law enforcement that he had been in Hayward, WI, and was traveling to a cabin.

Deputies saw that Barkema’s eyes were bloodshot and glossy and he also had slurred speed when speaking with the Deputies. During field sobriety tests, Deputies observed several clues of impairment. A preliminary breath test on Barkema gave a result of .28. Barkema was taken into custody and charges were filed. Barkema was placed on a $5,000 cash bond which was later posted.

Online circuit court records show that following numerous previous hearings, Barkema appeared in court most recently on June 14, 2021, regarding his charges. The Court accepted a plea of Guilty from Barkema on his charge of Class D Felony Homicide by Intoxicated Use of Vehicle. His charge of Class D Felony Homicide by Use of Vehicle with Prohibited Alcohol Concentration was merged and dismissed, according to online circuit court records.

The Court revoked Barkema’s bond and he was remanded immediately to the custody of the Polk County Jail.