Davenport man charged with sexual abuse of Charles City girl he met online

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Davenport man has been charged with meeting a young Charles City girl online, coming to town and having sex with her.

Yuciel Santiago De La Cruz, age 25, was charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C felony, and lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony, for an event alleged to have happened Aug. 10.

According to the criminal report filed in Floyd County District Court by the Charles City Police Department, De La Cruz met a 13-year-old female on the internet.

De La Cruz allegedly came to Charles City and picked the girl up at her home after her parents went to bed. He drove to a local motel and had sex with her three times, the report said, then took her back to her residence and left town.

De La Cruz was arrested in Davenport on Sept. 3, court records show. His bond was set at $10,000 cash in Floyd County District Court, and was paid the next day by a person from Charlotte, a small town in the eastern part of Iowa.

A no-contact order was issued by the court for De La Cruz and the alleged victim.

Arraignment had been set for Monday, but De La Cruz requested a continuance and arraignment was reset for Oct. 26. Often a defendant files a written arraignment and plea through an attorney rather than appearing in court.

Class C felonies are punishable upon conviction by a prison term of an indeterminate time up to 10 years, plus various fines, fees and surcharges.