Judge: Sex abuse case will not go back to juvenile court

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge ruled Tuesday that a sexual abuse case involving a 17-year-old charged with sexually assaulting an intoxicated 18-year-old woman last year, will remain in adult court and not be moved back to juvenile court.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns said the nature and circumstances of the case weighs against any arguments made to move proceedings to juvenile court. He said the allegation that Jayden Goos, of Fairfax, agreed to give the woman, who he knew was intoxicated, a ride home and then took advantage of her is 'appalling.”

Goos is charged with third-degree sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces 10 years in prison.

The criminal complaint and search warrant affidavit shows the woman went to a party with friends and Goos also attended the party Aug. 10, 2016. The woman told authorities she drank too much and asked Goos to take her home. She then awoke to find Goos having sex with her in his apartment on a couch.

The woman told police once she realized what was happening she jumped up, grabbed her clothes and called a friend to pick her up, the affidavit shows.

Goos admitted to police he knew the woman was drunk but claimed the sex was consensual, according to the complaint.

Bruns pointed out a juvenile services officer testified he didn't recommend moving the case to juvenile court because there is a time limit on the rehabilitation Goos could receive after he turns 18, which is in September.

In adult court, there would be no time limit on how long he could receive treatment because there are options, such as probation, and there's more ability to monitor him, Bruns said.

Norm McElwain, the juvenile court services officer, said Goos could be sent to the State Training School for Boys in Eldora until age 18 and he could receive outpatient sex offender treatment for another year after that, but he didn't recommend it.

McElwain said he also had concerns because Goos didn't admit to the crime, which is 'essential” for successful sex offender treatment, and this is a serious offense as the allegation involves an intoxicated victim.

McElwain said if Goos didn't comply, the juvenile court could hold him in contempt, which could result in jail time but that would only delay treatment and he might not finish before his eligibility in juvenile court ran out.

The treatment takes about six to nine months to complete, and if Goos didn't plead guilty and went to trial and was convicted, he might not start at the training school until after May, McElwain said.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Rena Schulte asked Bruns to deny the waiver based on the offense and McElwain's 'valid” concerns about limited rehabilitation.

Goos trial is set for March 27 in Linn County District Court.

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