A Le Mars man currently accused of 24 counts of child endangerment and animal neglect has been arrested for a second time and charged with three additional counts of sexual abuse.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says 54-year-old Rick Reifenrath was taken into custody again on Monday on three separate warrants, with a preliminary hearing set for next Thursday, April 30th at 8:45am. Reifenrath is facing one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class B felony, sexual abuse in the 3rd degree, a Class C felony, and incest, a Class D felony.
The additional charges stem from the investigation into the care of Reifenrath’s children and numerous dogs that began last September, with the new charges alleging actions dating back to July of 2022. Three children and 111 dogs were removed from a property in rural Plymouth County by authorities during a search on September 23rd, with court documents alleging Reifenrath failed to provide basic nutrition, water, sanitary conditions, and ventilated shelter to at least 20 dogs.
Reifenrath was initially taken into custody in January and was charged with three counts of child endangerment, one count of child endangerment with injury, 19 counts of animal neglect, and one count of animal neglect with injury. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last month, with his trial in that case scheduled to start on Tuesday, May 19th.
Reifenrath is currently free after posting $25,000 bond on Tuesday. The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force assisted the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.
