On December 29, 2020, at 2:30 pm, the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office arrested Andrew Joyce (46) of Emmetsburg on a valid Palo Alto County warrant. Criminal charges listed on the Palo Alto County warrant include ongoing criminal conduct – unlawful activity = class B felony; theft 1st degree = class C felony; sell funeral services without sales permit = class D felony; and theft 2nd degree = class D felony. Bond was set in the amount of $25,000.00 cash only. The warrant stems from an ongoing criminal investigation by special investigators of the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau. Joyce was not immediately able to post bond and was subsequently booked into the Palo Alto County Jail to await his initial appearance before a magistrate.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.