Cedar Rapids man convicted of sexually abusing child since she was 6 years old

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man pleaded Thursday to lesser charges in the sexual abuse of a child who was 6 years old in 2016 when the “predatory“ crime first happened, and it continued until she was 12 years old in 2021.

Elijah Allen Covington, 23, pleaded to amended charges of three counts of lascivious acts with a child, all felonies; and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and indecent contact with a child, both aggravated misdemeanors.

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Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Patrick Grady ran some of the charges concurrently and consecutively, in accordance with a plea agreement, for a total of up to 22 years in prison.

At sentencing, the defense will ask the judge for a suspended sentence and probation and the prosecution will ask for a prison term.

The pending charge of second-degree sexual abuse — with child under 12, which is a Class B felony, will be dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement.

Covington made an Alford plea to the charges. When a defendant makes an Alford plea, he doesn’t admit guilt but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove its case.

Grady said Covington also faces a special sentence of parole and must comply with the sex offender registry requirements for life.

This is considered a predatory offense and if Covington commits a similar crime, the penalties could be enhanced, Grady noted.

According to a criminal complaint, the child, when she was 14 year old, told her parents and then a forensic interviewer with the UnityPoint — St. Luke’s Child Protection Center that Covington sexually abused her continuously from the time he was 14 years old on Feb. 28, 2016 and she was 6 years old.

The abuse continued until Dec. 24, 2021 when she was 12 years old and he was 19 years old, the girl told officials. She provided explicit incidents and a Snapchat conversation she had with him and he acknowledged her age on January 2023.

The victim attended the hearing, along with several members of her family and friends.

Covington will be sentenced Sept. 2 in Linn County District Court.

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