March 29, 2024

Man to be sentenced in sexual abuse case of Monroe teen

A Knoxville man will be sentenced in November for the April 2015 sexual abuse incident of a Monroe teenager.

Alex T. Vander Veer, 20, entered an Alford plea to the charge of lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony, during a hearing at the Jasper County Courthouse.

An Alford plea allows is when a defendant to enter a plea of guilty without making an admission of guilt.

The defendant was originally arrested and charged with third-degree sexual abuse, also a Class C felony, in November 2015, following an investigation by the Monroe Police Department and the Iowa Department of Human Services.

The victim told investigators she and Vander Veer had engaged in sexual relations. Court records released Wednesday assert the defendant fondled or inappropriately touched the then-13-year-old. Vander Veer maintains he did not touch the victim. He was 18 at the time of the incident.

The victim’s guardian told police a medical examination was conducted shortly after the alleged assault, and the Iowa DCI crime lab later found Vander Veer’s DNA on evidence gathered from the victim and from the victim’s clothes the evening of the incident. Vander Veer originally pleaded not guilty in January.

The Jasper County Attorney’s Office recommended the amended charge and the hearing was overseen by Judge Terry Rickers.

Vander Veer is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. Nov. 14 in Jasper County District Court.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com