Lang
11/18/22
An Iowa City man accused of sexually abusing teenage runaways has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Online court records show 27-year-old Nathaniel Whitfield of Linn Street agreed to the deal on Tuesday. Details have not been released.
The first alleged sexual assault occurred between June 9th and October 17th of 2021. A 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 the girl 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 her pregnant. Whitfield reportedly admitted that he had supplied the marijuana they smoked together, that two were in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, and that they had engaged in a sex act.
Whitfield faces three counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse, two Drug Distribution violations, and two counts of Harboring a Runaway. If convicted on all charges, he faces a sentence of up to 84 years in prison.