Former Oelwein mayor pleads not guilty to sex abuse charges

Jason Manus, the former Oelwein mayor accused of abusing two underage girls four years ago, has pleaded not guilty to charges against him.

According to online court records, 36-year-old Jason J. Manus, filed a written arraignment Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to five counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Manus' trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 8 and his final pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Manus was arrested on Aug. 11 after an investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said two juvenile females reported being sexually assaulted in Oelwein in 2010. At the time, the girls were just 14 and 9 years old. An investigation showed that in July and August 2010, Manus abused the 14-year-old four times and the 9-year-old once. At least some of the abuse allegedly occurred in Manus' home and criminal complaints allege Manus told the girls not to tell anyone what had happened.

Manus submitted his letter of resignation to the Oelwein City Council in late August. His resignation was accepted and Mayor Pro-Tem Peggy Sherrets was appointed mayor.

Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.