Solon man pleads to lesser charges in sex abuse of child, woman

Sep. 9—IOWA CITY — A 50-year-old Solon man pleaded last week to amended charges in the sexual abuse of a child and a woman.

In avoiding a trial set to start Monday, Robert L. Egesdal, 50, made an Alford plea in writing to indecent contact with a child in October 2013 through November 2014, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse of a woman in June 2019, both aggravated misdemeanors, according to the plea agreement.

In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit to the offense but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The prosecution will ask a judge to sentence Egesdal to two years on each charge, running them consecutively for a total of four years in prison.

Egesdal, according to the plea, will ask a judge for a deferred sentence — meaning if he has no violations during a probation period his conviction could be expunged.

He also will be required to be listed on the sex offender registry for life and serve a special sentence of parole for 10 years, the plea states.

The sentencing judge also will impose no five year contact orders against Egesdal for each victim.

The other four charges of third-degree sexual abuse, involving the same victims, will be dismissed at sentencing, according to the plea.

According to the criminal complaints, Egesdal sexually abused the child, starting at the age of 12, on multiple occasions from October 2013 through and November 2017.

Egesdal also sexually abused the woman from October 2017 through June 2019, a complaint stated.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com

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