Meyers

A local man was given a 10-year prison term from District Court Judge John Haney on Monday for lascivious acts with a 5-year-old child.

“Your actions were reprehensible,” Haney said to defendant Carl Meyers, Jr., 45.

Myers pleaded guilty to the crime, a Class C felony, June 1. He had been arrested earlier this year on sexual abuse second degree, a Class B felony, by the Marshalltown Police Department.

He later pleaded guilty to the lesser lascivious acts charge as part of plea arrangement with the Marshall County Attorney’s office approved by the court.

While reading from a written statement, the child’s mother emotionally described how the defendant gained her and her daughter’s trust by purchasing toys and letting the girl sit on his lap. The mother said the defendant acted like a father figure, which she and the child embraced. He later betrayed the trust by performing sex acts on the girl.

The mother said the sex acts severely impacted her daughter, she began to wet her pants, “have meltdowns” and display other disturbing behavior.

“This has been incredibly hard on our family,” the mother said.

The defendant, while living in Wisconsin, became acquainted with the girl’s mother online. He came to Marshalltown for a visit and remained here with the mother and daughter until the daughter revealed the sexual activity.

Two additional written victim impact statements from the girl’s relatives were submitted to the court.

Marshall County Attorney Jennifer Miller asked the court to impose the 10-year sentence because “the defendant had not taken responsibility for his action and did not show remorse.”

The court followed Miller’s recommendations, despite Meyers making a brief statement before sentencing.

“I am sorry for what I did,” he said. “I can not go back, I need to move forward … that is all.”

Defense attorney Jennie Wilson-Moore of Conrad asked the court to order probation.

She said Meyers had complied with conditions of his GPS-monitoring from an ankle bracelet, found a place to live and also had made efforts to find employment in Marshalltown. Specifically, he had been hired by a local manufacturer and was to have received orientation July 20. However, that was the day following the devastating EF-3 tornado that did considerable damage to the building he was to work in, and the orientation was canceled.

Consequently, he had to look for employment elsewhere. He had applied at a well-known national delivery service in Marshalltown, Wilson-Moore said.

Haney said his sentencing was based on the need for the defendant to rehabilitate himself, to deter others who might be contemplating similar crimes and to protect society.

Meyers is to begin serving the sentences immediately. However, he has 30 days to appeal the sentence.

Haney ordered Meyers to register as sex offender for life upon release from prison, and to follow no contact orders, either directly or indirectly with the victim or family.

In addition to the prison terms and numerous fines, Meyers was ordered to make a victim restitution payment. Haney granted Miller 30 days to file the claim on behalf of the victim and family.

The sentencing took place in Room 527 at Marshalltown Community College. It has served as a temporary Marshall County District Courtroom shortly after the tornado caused considerable damage to the Marshall County Courthouse. It has been closed to the public since while it undergoes major restoration.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com