Contact between 21-year-old suspect, teenage girl barred in pot for sex case

MORAVIA (MCT) — The man authorities accuse of having sex with a 14-year-old female in exchange for drugs has been ordered not to contact the girl.

Adam Joseph Clark, 21, was arrested Monday. He is charged with sexual abuse against a victim under the age of 20 and with distributing drugs to a minor.

Authorities say the exchange took place in August, when Clark traded marijuana in exchange for sex with the girl. Her name is not being printed because she is the alleged victim in a case of sexual abuse.

The incident was not reported immediately. The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Department says it found out in late October. Clark was arrested after an investigation. He was released on $35,000 bond.

The courts barred him on Tuesday from any contact with the girl. A ban on contact with the victim is standard practice when a person is accused of sexual abuse.

Iowa’s court system’s online database does show one significant difference with the information initially released. Appanoose County authorities originally said the drug charge was a Class B felony. The court system says it is a Class C charge.

The difference is significant. A Class B felony carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison, while a Class C felony carries up to 10 years.