Lawyers for IC man accused of sexually abusing step-daughter seek to suppress evidence

Lawyers for IC man accused of sexually abusing step-daughter seek to suppress evidence
Lang
6/22/19

Lawyers for an Iowa City man accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter are seeking to have some evidence suppressed in the case.

Peter Riley of Cedar Rapids filed the motion to suppress Thursday in the case of 55-year-old Jeffry Waite of Oakcrest Hill Road. Waite was arrested in September on accusations he had committed multiple sex acts against the teen’s will over a multiple year period, beginning in 2013. Police say he coaxed the girl into exposing herself to him after years of his urging her to do so.

In a May 2015 incident, Waite is accused of touching the girls’ genitals while she was driving them to an appointment. That, police say, was the start of a physical relationship between them, though they say the teen told Waite to stop during the sex acts.

Police say the abuse continued through 2017.

Waite faces two counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse and one of Lascivious Acts with a Minor. If convicted on all charges, he could be sentenced to up to 21 years in prison.

There is no word on when a judge will rule on Thursday’s request.  Trial is set to begin on Tuesday.