Trial starts today for IC man accused of sexually abusing stepdaughter
Hunter
6/25/19
Trial is scheduled to start today in the case of an Iowa City man accused of sexually abusing his stepdaughter.
Jeffry Waite of Oakcrest Hill Road was arrested in September on accusations that 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.
Last Thursday, representation for Waite requested a portion of state’s evidence suppressed in the case, and on Monday judge Ian Thornhill ruled that testimony of the state’s witness related to treatment of the alleged victim for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is excluded and cannot be presented at trial.
Waite faces two counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse and one count of Lascivious Acts with a Minor. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 21 years in prison.
Trial is scheduled for 9am this morning.