Hunter/Lang
05/18/22
An Iowa City man who agreed to a plea deal Monday on charges that he was harboring two runaways this past November was arrested the next day for allegedly having sex with two underage teens last year.
26-year-old Nathaniel Whitfield faces several charges related to the alleged incidents.
The first occurred between June 9th and October 17th of 2021. The 14-year-old was on the run from shelter placement with another girl when she met Whitfield, who reportedly allowed them to stay at his residence on various nights during the period. During those times, Whitfield allegedly supplied her with marijuana that they smoked together on several occasions. A photo was reportedly located showing Whitfield and the girl kissing and he later allegedly admitted that they had engaged in a sex act. Whitfield also reportedly admitted that he knew she was on the run and believed her to be around 15 to 16 years old.
The second victim, a 15-year-old girl, told authorities that between June 9th and August 1st Whitfield had supplied her with marijuana that they smoked together multiple times. She also told police that the two had sex multiple times and were trying to get pregnant. Whitfield reportedly admitted that he had supplied the marijuana they smoked together, the two were in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship and later admitted that they had engaged in a sex act.
Warrants were issued for Whitfield’s arrest Tuesday afternoon, and he was taken to jail just after 10 pm. He faces three counts of 3rd degree Sexual Abuse, two Drug Distribution violations, and two counts of Harboring a Runaway. If convicted on all charges, Whitfield faces a sentence of up to 84 years in prison.
Iowa City Police received a report last November 9th of a girl who had absconded from Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids and was believed to be in Iowa City. Investigators say the girl’s social media posts indicated she was staying with Whitfield at his Linn Street apartment. Officers made contact with Whitfield at his residence that afternoon. He allegedly said the girl had been at his apartment the previous night and had just left a few minutes earlier to shop for clothes. When the officer asked to check Whitfield’s apartment, he allegedly claimed the girl wasn’t there. The officer waited outside the apartment until the girl came outside on her own. She was then taken back to Cedar Rapids.
Police were again sent to Whitfield’s apartment two days later for another report of a runaway living there. Investigators say they found the juvenile and Whitfield inside. The child had been reported missing several days earlier. Whitfield was then arrested.
He faced up to four years in jail for two counts of Harboring a Runaway against the Wishes of a Parent. On Monday, one count was dismissed; on the other, Whitfield was charged with 30 days of time served and fined $855 by Judge Jason Burns.