Louisa County man found guilty of having inappropriate contact with underage Iowa City girl

Lang
9/3/23

A Louisa County man has been found guilty on charges that he had indecent contact with a teenage Iowa City girl.

A jury reached the guilty verdict Friday in the case of 53-year-old Lance Thomas of Columbus Junction. Thomas was accused of having inappropriate contact on multiple occasions in 2021 with a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 15. The victim told investigators that on different occasions Thomas would inappropriately touch her, and on some occasions climb into bed with her. Witnesses reported seeing Thomas in bed with the girl on multiple occasions, and the girl’s mother reported that on one occasion she pulled the sheets off and noticed Thomas was semi-erect when she grabbed his groin.

Thomas was charged with Assault With Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, Indecent Contact With A Child and four counts of Lascivious Conduct With A Minor. With Friday’s conviction, he now faces a maximum of eight years in prison.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.