Charles City man not guilty on felony child sex charge, guilty on two misdemeanors

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man was found not guilty on a felony charge of sexual acts with a child after a jury trial in Floyd County District Court this week.

He was found guilty on two misdemeanor charges of indecent contact and lascivious contact.

The Floyd County jury found James Arvin Boehmer, age 46, not guilty of a charge of lascivious acts with a child for allegedly touching his genitals to the body of a child for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, a Class C felony.

The acts had been alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2016.

He was found guilty of the charge of indecent contact with a child for touching the inner thigh, groin, bottom or breast of a child for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, an aggravated misdemeanor. The act was alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2017.

Boehmer was also found guilty of lascivious conduct with a minor, for allegedly forcing, persuading of coercing a minor, with or without consent, to fully or partially disrobe for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, a serious misdemeanor. The conduct was alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2018.

The jury deliberated for about two hours Thursday afternoon before reaching its verdict.
District Court Judge Chris Foy set sentencing on the charges for Jan. 24.

The conviction of the indecent contact aggravated misdemeanor is eligible for a sentence of up to two years incarceration and 10 years listing on the Iowa sexual offender registry.

The conviction of the lascivious conduct serious misdemeanor charge is eligible for a sentence of up to one year incarceration and 10 years on the sexual offender registry.

Both misdemeanor convictions are also eligible for additional fines, fees and requirements.

Conviction of the C felony would have been eligible for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and lifetime registration on the Iowa sexual offender registry, plus other fines, fees and requirements.