Charles City man pleads guilty to sexual abuse in return for deferred judgment recommendation

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man whose October trial on a charge of sexual abuse resulted in a hung jury has now pleaded guilty in an agreement that will recommend he receive probation and the possibility of a deferred judgment.

An arrest warrant was issued for Bradley Charles Leroy Eckert, now age 19, in March 2022 for allegedly sexually touching, choking and then having sex with a juvenile girl twice on March 30, 2021, a little less than a month after he had turned 17.

“This was information from an interview at Child Protection Center. DNA results back from the DCI crime lab from the sex assault kit confirmed defendant’s DNA taken from victim,” according to the criminal complaint filed in Floyd County District Court by the Charles City Police Department.

Eckert, now age 19, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C Felony. He pleaded not guilty and his trial began Oct. 25, 2022. Two days later the jury informed Judge DeDra Schroeder that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict and Schroeder declared a mistrial.

Eckert had been scheduled to begin trial again in February this year, but before that trial began his attorney notified the court that Eckert wanted to change his plea. A plea hearing was held last week, at which time Eckert entered a written Alford Plea of guilty to the charge of sexual abuse in the third degree.

An Alford plea means the defendant agrees that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely convince a jury of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but he does not admit guilt. The criminal record impact is the same as pleading guilty.

In return for the guilty plea, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office agreed to recommend a deferred judgment, probation to the Iowa Department of Correctional Services, registration on the Iowa Sexual Abuse Registry and paying court costs.

A deferred judgment in Iowa means the defendant pleads guilty, but the judge defers judgment and sentencing and sets up conditions such as probation that the defendant must meet.

If the defendant successfully completes all the conditions, the judge will dismiss the case and seal the records, meaning the defendant’s public record will not show the charges or a conviction. The court maintains access to the records in case the defendant is charged with a criminal offense in the future.

The judge retains the power to enter a judgment of guilty and impose a sentence if the deferment conditions are not met.

“I understand that the agreement set forth above is not binding in any way on the court and that at the time of sentencing, the court can impose any sentence which it feels is appropriate, up to the maximum penalties permitted by law,” Eckert’s plea says.

“In the event the court elects not to follow my recommendation, I retain my right to withdraw my plea of guilty and to be tried on all issues,” it says.

Sentencing is scheduled in Floyd County District Court on April 17.