Charles City man sentenced to probation on Mitchell County enticing charge

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man who pleaded guilty to a charge of enticing an 11-year-old Mitchell County girl has been sentenced to a suspended sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a suspended fine, and placed under probation for five years.

John Edward Onken, age 24, had been charged with enticing a minor under the age of 13 with the intent to commit sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, a Class C felony, after concerns were reported to law enforcement late last year by Osage school officials.

According to documents filed in Mitchell County District Court, the Osage High School principal had notified the Osage Police Department that he had concerns about inappropriate materials and conversations on a cellphone belonging to an 11-year-old.

A family member provided law enforcement with copies of Facebook Messenger conversations between the victim and Onken which were sexual in nature and discussed meeting to have sex, the criminal complaint says. Onken was arrested and charged last November.

In May, Onken filed a written plea of guilty to the charge in return for an agreement from the Mitchell County Attorney’s office to support the sentencing recommendation of a presentencing investigation by the Iowa Department of Correctional Services.

On Tuesday, District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder sentenced Onken to up to 10 years in prison, suspended; a $1,370 fine plus 15% surcharge, both suspended; ordered him to pay court costs and other fees, as well as damages that will be filed by the County Attorney’s Office; and placed him under five years supervised probation.

Onken is also required to register on the Iowa Sexual Offense Registry, and a no-contact order with the victim was extended.