A 32-year-old Fort Madison man, Jacob Anthony Haage, has been jailed for domestic abuse after a minor child stabbed him to prevent him from choking their mother. The Lee County Attorney’s Office has ruled the stabbing an act of self-defense, confirming that no charges will be filed against the child for protecting their parent.
FORT MADISON, IA (3-minute read) — What began as an investigation into a stabbing has concluded with the “victim” behind bars. Early Sunday morning, February 8, 2026, Fort Madison police were called to a residence on the 3000 block of Avenue J following reports of a violent domestic disturbance. Officers arrived to find 32-year-old Jacob Anthony Haage lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds. However, as the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the injuries were the result of a child’s desperate attempt to save their mother’s life.
According to criminal complaints, Haage had returned home from work and began drinking heavily before a verbal argument turned physical. After an initial altercation that led to a trip to the emergency room for a hand injury, Haage reportedly became belligerent, punching the victim in the face and later pinning her to a bed while choking her. During the assault, the victim’s child intervened, stabbing Haage with a knife to stop the attack.
Legal Ruling: A Clear Case of Third-Party Defense
The Lee County Attorney’s Office issued a press release on Thursday, officially announcing that the child’s actions were a justified use of force in defense of another. Haage is currently facing an aggravated misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse assault—impending flow of air/blood. Despite his injuries, police noted that Haage attempted to place the victim in another chokehold even after being stabbed, until they both fell and officers arrived on the scene.
Haage is currently being held at the Lee County Jail on a $2,000 cash-only bond. A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for Monday, February 23, at the North Lee County Courthouse.
Safety Tip: Domestic violence situations are among the most volatile and dangerous environments for both victims and those attempting to intervene. This case highlights the legal principle of “Defense of Others,” which allows a third party to use reasonable force, even deadly force, if they believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to someone else.
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