Nora Springs counselor pleads guilty to having sex with teen client

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Nora Springs women who was charged with having sex with a young client while working as a counselor has pleaded guilty and a sentencing date has been set for January.

Sharmae Marie Field, age 28, of Nora Springs, was charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C felony, and sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist, a Class D felony.

She pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse charge in a plea agreement where the Floyd County Attorney’s Office will dismiss the sexual exploitation charge and recommend a suspended sentence and probation.

The complete recommendation includes a sentence of to 10 years in prison, suspended; three to five years of probation; $1,375 fine plus 15% surcharge, suspended; Iowa’s special sentence for sexual offenders, which would put her under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services for the rest of her life; registration on the state’s Sexual Offender Registry; dismissal of count 2; and other fees and charges.

According to information filed in Floyd County District Court, Field was employed as a counselor at Francis Lauer Youth Services in Mason City, where the alleged victim, identified as a 14-year-old boy, was a client.

The report alleges that Field would pick up the boy near his home in Mason City and then drive to Rudd where they would have sex. She was arrested March 21 in Nora Springs.

At a plea hearing Monday in Floyd County District Court, District Court Judge Chris Foy accepted Field’s guilty plea and set sentencing for Jan. 23, 2023.