Cedar Rapids man accused of sending obscene texts to minor girl

A Cedar Rapids man is accused of sending illicit text messages to a minor girl in October.

According to a report, the victim's mother went to Iowa City police with her daughter and her cell phone, accusing Samuel J. Stratton Jr. 26, of engaging her in a late-night text message conversation Oct. 30 about how he was attracted to her, and at one point sending her an picture of his penis.

An officer stated he had a brief phone conversation with Stratton, who said he was drunk at the time and did not realize who he was messaging.

"[Stratton] could not come up with any other answer when he was confronted with the facts of the investigation," police said in the report.

Stratton was asked to come to the Iowa City Police Department for an interview at a specified date, but never showed up, police said.

Stratton is charged with dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to a minor, a serious misdemeanor.

Previous records indicate he is accused of assaulting a Cedar Rapids police officer and second-degree harassment after being pulled over on suspicion of operating while intoxicated earlier in October. A pre-trial conference in that case is set for Dec. 21.