Iowa Man Now In Custody After Arrest Warrant For Sexual Abuse

Matthew Nordrum is a 45-year-old man who resides in Clermont, Iowa, which is about an hour and a half north of Cedar Rapids

Yesterday, May 16, Fayette County Sheriff's office issued a nationwide search warrant, determined to find the man who is being accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of five. At the moment, he's being charged with "Second Degree Sexual Abuse after a two-week investigation," according to KWWL. The alleged abuse took place at his home.

Expected to be somewhere in the Tri-State area, Nordrum turned himself into the Fayette County Sheriff's Office in West Union, Iowa, this morning, May 17 at 10:30 AM, per KCRG.

As shared in the report by the NE Iowa news station, "The Sheriff's Office says he also sexually assaulted several other victims."

Nordrum is currently being held on a $25,000 bond and the further charges are pending.

The Iowa County Attorney's Association shares the following about the possible outcome of the charges that have been levied on the Clermont man:

● Although Iowa has indeterminate sentencing, Iowa law also successfully incorporates mandatory minimum sentences for certain serious sex offenses. The Iowa Code does not use the term “mandatory minimum,” but the effect is the same.

● Sexual abuse in the second degree is a Class 'B' felony with a maximum prison term of 25 years. This crime captures the large majority of the hard core perpetrators of child sexual abuse, where the victim is under the age of twelve. And, if convicted, it carries a “mandatory minimum” sentence of 17.5 years in prison. There are no exceptions. The interaction of three important sections of the Iowa Criminal Code create this 'mandatory minimum' sentence:

►  §702.11 defines a “forcible felony.” All sexual abuse is a forcible felony.

► §907.3 determines eligibility for a deferred judgment or a suspended sentence. All “forcible felonies” are excluded.

► §902.12 provides that for sexual abuse in the second degree the defendant shall serve no less than 70% of the maximum sentence imposed.