Facing a litany of charges for her shocking descent into criminality, former Iowa nurse Sarah Ann Haptonstall, 47, of Onawa, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison. The sentence was handed down on July 16, 2025, following Haptonstall’s guilty plea on February 24, 2025.
Haptonstall was caught burglarizing a couple’s home in Onawa multiple times to steal pain medication necessary for the couple’s constant nerve pain. A former nurse, she knew all too well how vital these medications were after delivering them herself in 2021. Law enforcement arrested her on March 10, 2023, with a 9mm Luger pistol and stolen drugs in her possession, despite being a felon and drug user.
The court heard that Haptonstall’s scheme was far-reaching, targeting multiple apartments in Onawa and stealing pain medications. As a licensed Iowa nurse from 2006 to 2022, she stole hydrocodone pills from elderly residents in two nursing homes, one of whom was over 90 years old. Her actions led to severe suffering and even death due to the substitution of narcotic pills with Tylenol.
But Haptonstall’s treachery didn’t end there. She also admitted to committing bank fraud against a small family-owned business in Onawa, where she was employed as the bookkeeper. Over $8,000 was embezzled through fraudulent checks, exploiting her position of trust.
Haptonstall’s extensive criminal history dates back to the late 1990s and includes multiple theft convictions and felony charges for forgery and controlled substance violations. Despite receiving a suspended ten-year sentence in state court for drug diversion in February 2023, she continued her illegal activities.
With this latest conviction and sentence, Haptonstall’s nursing license has been surrendered, marking the end of a career derailed by greed and deceit.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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