Legal technicality nets plea on day of trial is to begin at Des Moines County Courthouse.

The man who shot at a group of people at Big Muddy's parking lot in September plead guilty on Tuesday to two of the five counts with which he was charged with after it was discovered he had agreed to a plea deal a week earlier.

As jury selection was underway in the first day of what was expected to be a four-day trial, Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer determined that Chad Allan Sharkey, 25, of Stronghurts, Illinois, had tried to express to his attorney, James Carter, that he wanted to take a plea deal.

"This is not something we would normally do," explained Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer.

Iowa law requires defendants be allowed to take a plea once they express their interest in taking a plea deal. Schaefer said a miscommunication took place last week which resulted in Carter not knowing Sharkey had decided to take the plea deal.

Schaefer said last week her office offered Sharkey the plea and he counter-offered a different arrangement.

Sharkey ultimately plead guilty to willful injury causing serious injury and intimidation with a firearm with the intent to injure or provoke.

"I think everyone should be satisfied with the plea arrangement," explained Carter.

Schaefer said she hopes this sends a message that shooting a gun at people can have serious consequences, even if the person being shot at does not die. Schaefer explained she hopes this is a lesson to those in the future who might like to solve problems with guns.

"It is not OK to solve verbal arguments with firearms," Schaefer said.

Sharkey originally was charged with attempted murder, a second count of willful injury causing serious injury and willful injury causing bodily injury, but these charges were dropped as part of the plea deal in addition to the willful injury and intimidation with a firearm charges.

The charges stem from a Sept. 4 incident during which Sharkey is said to have shot at a group of people standing in the parking lot outside of Big Muddy's. Sharkey injured three people, Tyler Bessine, David Degan and Blain Burford, when he shot at a crowd of people after an argument with Degan. Degan and Burford required medical treatment, including surgery.

Schaefer said everyone involved was very lucky no one died.

According to Carter, Sharkey will be sentenced to 10 years on each count, though whether Sharkey will serve those sentences consecutively or concurrently is yet to be determined. Judge Mary Ann Brown will make that decision during a sentencing hearing Jan. 6. Convicted rapist Steven Mauck also will be sentenced that day.

"We're confident that with the charge we dropped being attempted murder, the judge will have no problem sentencing him to consecutive sentences," Schaefer explained.

In addition, Sharkey faces a fine of up to $20,000, though Schaefer said she would be fine with suspending the fines due to Sharkey's long sentences. She also said it is unlikely Sharkey would ever be able to pay the fines due to the amount of restitution Sharkey will owe his victims.

"The restitution will be quite extensive," Schaefer explained,

Schaefer was unable to estimate what the restitution payment would total as both Degan and Burford are still receiving medical bills.