JEFFERSON, Iowa — A Paton man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly stabbing his uncle and setting his house on fire, according to a statement released by the Greene County Sheriff’s office.
Devin Christopher Hackfort, 28, of 303 State St., Paton, was charged with attempted murder, first-degree harassment, second-degree arson and two counts of assault on persons in certain occupations.
The incident began about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, when Greene County Deputy Sheriffs responded to a call from a Paton man who said he had been “stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors by his nephew” and was en route to the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, according to court records.
While being treated at the hospital for “a significant puncture wound on his back,” the victim received a phone call from Hackfort, who allegedly told the victim “that he had set the house on fire and intended on killing himself,” according to court records.
Deputies arrived at the State Street residence about 2:30 p.m., and “the house was on fire,” according to court records. A dog was rescued from the burning structure, but two cats died.
Law enforcement later located Hackfort on Iowa Highway 144 south of Dana, but he “attempted to elude law enforcement” and “left the scene,” according to the sheriff’s statement. He was later arrested at the scene of the crime on State Street in Paton.
Hackfort is held in the Greene County Jail on a $45,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 19 in Greene County District Court.
Hackfort was convicted of domestic abuse assault-impeding flow of air/blood and first-offense domestic abuse assault with intent to inflict serious injury in 2021 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of assault on persons in certain occupations in 2023 in Greene County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
