Sex abuse trial delayed while Floyd man undergoes competency exam

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Floyd man facing six charges of sexual contact and sexual conduct with at least two girls has had his trial suspended while he undergoes a competency evaluation.

Charles Earl Thompson, age 63, was scheduled to begin trial on Tuesday on felony charges of sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class B felony, and lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony, allegedly committed with a girl age 8-9 in 2018-2019.

He is also charged with two counts of indecent contact with a child, aggravated misdemeanors, alleged to also have occurred with a girl age 8-9 in 2018-19, and a charge of dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to a minor, a serious misdemeanor, also involving a girl age 8-9 during 2018-2019.

The sixth count involves a girl age 15, who Thompson is alleged to have assaulted with the intent to commit sexual abuse in the summer of 2018, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Last week Thompson’s attorney, Matthew Pittenger of Mason City, applied to the court to delay the trial to allow time to have Thompson evaluated and to have a competency hearing.

In a motion to continue (delay), Pittenger wrote that he “has concerns that defendant is not understanding the ramifications of the charges he is facing.”

Also, the attorney wrote, “Conversations with defendant’s family members even causes more concern that defendant is not understanding the nature of the charges and his ability to assist in any potential defenses.”

Floyd County District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder ordered Thompson to undergo an inpatient competency evaluation by the state psychiatrist at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coralville, “to determine whether Defendant is suffering from a mental disorder which prevents Defendant from appreciating the charge, understanding the proceedings, or assisting effectively in the defense to the charge.”

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17 in Floyd County District Court to rule on the report from the state psychiatrist.

Thompson was being held on $40,000 cash-only bond. That was changed to no bond until the results of the competency hearing.

Thompson was charged in October 2019 after a 9-year-old girl, interviewed at the Child Protection Center in Waterloo, alleged that Thompson touched her sexually at Thompson’s residence in Floyd.

He was charged with assault with intent to commit sexual assault for allegedly grabbing the breast of a then-15-year-old girl, who was also interviewed at the Child Protection Center.