Appeals court upholds former elementary guidance counselor's sexual abuse conviction

IOWA CITY - A former Iowa City elementary guidance counselor's sexual abuse conviction was upheld Wednesday by the Iowa Court of Appeals.

Donald Clark , 43, was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse and sentenced to 25 years in prison for abusing a Lemme Elementary fifth-grader during the 2003-2004 school year. Clark was regularly taking the boy out of class and sexually abusing him, according to trial testimony.

Clark claimed in the appeal he was denied a fair trial because the court refused to continue trial and allow the defense to take more depositions regarding an email written by the victim that wasn't disclosed to Clark until a few days before trial.

The email didn't contain new information and the defense had opportunity to cross-examine the victim about the email, according to the ruling. There was nothing in the email which "warranted further investigation, depositions or a continuance of the trial."