A Zearing man has been sentenced to 20 years for his role in kidnapping and abusing a family member for several months.
Aaron Williams, 22, is one of four family members who were charged in the kidnapping case. He, Gary Graham, 46, and Danielle Graham, 44, and a then 16-year-old were each charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury in March 2024 for allegedly handcuffing an adult family member to a bed at a home in Zearing.
An18-year-old victim was taken to a local hospital in January 2024 and was “near death.” According to court documents, the family member weighed 70 pounds, could not walk or talk, and was covered in wounds, bruises, and human waste. The person was repeatedly abused over several months, dating back to November 2023.
Court documents also describe how the victim was severely malnourished and had lost a significant amount of muscle and fat content. His feet were turning inward because he lacked sufficient muscle to keep them straight, and his arm mobility was limited by shortened muscles.
Williams entered a guilty plea on Oct. 15, 2024. A judge agreed to change Williams’ charge from first-degree kidnapping to third-degree in exchange for his testimony.
Williams was sentenced to 10 years for each charge on March 5, a total of 20 years. He must also pay more than $2,500 in fines.
What were the other family members’ sentences?
Gary Graham pleaded not guilty to first-degree kidnapping and willful injury. He was found guilty of both charges on Oct. 6 and on Dec. 5. and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Danielle Graham pled guilty to second-degree kidnapping, two counts of willful injury causing serious injury and one count of dependent adult abuse causing serious injury on Nov. 26, 2025.
She was sentenced to 55 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 17 years.
A 16-year-old was charged as an adult as well “due to the severity of the charges,” according to a Story County Sheriff’s Office news release from March 2024. The juvenile was sentenced to six years of probation on Jan. 13, according to court documents.
Additionally, Gary Graham is scheduled for a separate jury trial on March 24 for alleged sexual abuse with a minor. He has been charged with five sexual abuse charges and one charge of incest. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Zearing man sentenced to 20 years for kidnapping, abusing family member
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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