60-year-old man found guilty of sexually abusing 10-year-old girl

A 60-year-old Cedar Rapids man was sentenced Friday in Linn County District Court to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl last year.

Bernard Nyabugulu, originally from Africa, through a Swahili interpreter made an Alford plea in February to one count of lascivious acts with a child as part of a plea agreement with the state. He was originally charged with second-degree sexual abuse.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott asked the court to give Nyabugulu the maximum prison sentence, 10 years, because of the seriousness of the crime.

“The victim is a 10-year-old refugee who came here to be safe,” Scott said. “He hasn't taken responsibility for his actions and blames the victim, saying she made this up and this was over a stolen bike. There is no bike. The DNA test and the victim's vaginal injury corroborate her account of what happened.”

Nyabugulu abused the child when they walked to a local store to get some food on May 23, 2010, according to court records. Nyabugulu was friends with the girl's family, also from Africa.

The defense asked for a suspended sentence and probation.

Nyabugulu through a Swahili interpreter told the judge he was innocent and didn't want to be separated from his family.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Mitchell Turner told Nyabugulu he was sentencing him to the 10 years because of he harm he had inflicted on the child and because he failed to take responsibility for the offense, even after pleading guilty.