Cedar Rapids man faces 10 years for sexual abuse of 13-year-old girl over two years

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man charged with sexually abusing a 13 year-old girl over a two-year period was convicted last week after his trial had been reset 11 times since 2021.

Jason Lee Cobb, 46, pleaded guilty Oct. 20, to third-degree sexual abuse and he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Cobb was originally charged with seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of lascivious conduct with a child.

He made an Alford plea to the charge. In an Alford, the defendant doesn’t admit guilt but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove its case.

The numerous incidents were not reported to authorities until the victim was 15 in 2021. She said Cobb sexually abused her when she was 13 years-old, starting March 10, 2019, and it continued after she was 14 years-old, through March 10, 2021, according to a criminal complaint. He coerced her to submit to the sexual abuse, the complaint stated.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jennifer Erger, who took over the case in 2024 after two previous prosecutors, said she talked to the victim and kept her updated on the case. Erger initially hadn’t offered a plea and planned to go to trial, but she wanted to fully explain to the teen the risks of a trial and also the benefits of a plea.

Erger only offered the plea after the teen and her family agreed to it. She was worried about revictimization of the teen at trial and the overall risks with sex abuse cases.

“My goal for her was to get justice because these cases are difficult,” Erger said.

The case was challenging based on the age of the case that had been pending since 2021 and had been continued about nine times before Erger took it over, she noted. She had to go back and review what had been done on the case and what else needed to be addressed.

Cobb’s sentencing is set for Jan. 30 in Linn County District Court.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com