Charles City man pleads guilty to child sexual abuse

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse with a young girl in a plea agreement that reduced the charge from a Class A felony — subject to a penalty of imprisonment for life — to a Class B felony, subject to a prison sentence of at least 17½ years.

James Tyrone Teel, age 33, was arrested in July under a preliminary charge of sexual abuse in the second degree, a Class B felony, for allegedly taking an 8-year-old girl into a bathroom at a business in Charles City and having sexual contact.

The girl allegedly made a statement about Teel during an interview at Child Protection Service. Video obtained from the business showed the man and the girl were in the restroom about seven minutes when the event allegedly occurred in June, according to the criminal complaint filed in Floyd County District Court.

Teel was formally charged with sexual abuse in the second degree as a Class A felony under an enhanced penalty rule after it was found he had previously been convicted of sexual abuse in the third degree in Johnson County in 2014.

Teel’s address on the original complaint lists Iowa City, but on an application for counsel Teel listed his address as Charles City.

Trial had been set to begin in the case in Floyd County District Court on Oct. 26, but on Oct. 25 Teel’s attorney filed an Alford plea, where Teel agreed that the evidence in the case would be sufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and would establish that he committed the offense, but he does not admit guilt.

District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder accepted Teel’s guilty plea and set sentencing for Dec. 6.

The penalty for a B felony is a prison term of up to 25 years in prison. Teel pleaded to a forcible felony, meaning he will be required to serve at least 70% of the sentence — 17½ years — before being eligible for release. The prison sentence cannot be suspended.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Teel will also be subject to Iowa’s special sentence, meaning even if he is released he will remain under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services for the rest of his life. He will also be required to register on the Iowa sexual offenders registry for life, pay restitution and pay other fees and charges.

Judge Schroeder ordered that Teel remain in custody pending sentencing.