Charles City man gets deferred judgment in child sex case

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man has received a sentence of probation and the possibility of a deferred judgment after pleading guilty to a reduced charge in a child sex case.

Jeffrey Ralph Hitchcock, age 53, had been charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C felony, and lascivious acts with a child, also a Class C felony.

In April, Hitchcock filed an Alford plea to the charge of lascivious contact with a minor, a serious misdemeanor.

As part of the plea agreement, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office recommended that Hitchcock receive the possibility of a deferred judgment in his sentencing and be sentenced to one year of probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections and a civil penalty of $430, plus registry on the Iowa Sexual Offenders Registry.

An Alford plea says Hitchcock does not admit guilt, but agrees that a judge or jury would likely find the evidence sufficient to convict him.

“I agree and admit that if a judge or jury hearing this case were to be presented with the evidence contained in the trial information, said evidence could be sufficient to convict me of the offense,” Hitchcock wrote in his plea statement.

On Tuesday, Judge Chris Foy followed the recommendation for sentencing.

If Hitchcock successfully completes the terms of his probation and all other aspects of his sentence, he will be “discharged from probation without entry of judgment and records with reference to the deferred judgment shall be expunged. This shall include the related counts and charges that are hereby dismissed,” Foy wrote in his order.

According to records filed in Floyd County District Court, Hitchcock had been accused of having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl throughout the year 2020, and sexually touching a 13-year-old girl.