Cedar Rapids man pleads to sex abuse of teen nearly 20 years ago

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man set for trial Tuesday pleaded to one charge of sexually abusing a teen in 2005 and 2006 after his trial had been delayed 11 times since being charged in 2022.

James Patrick Shannon, 54, who originally was charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, entered an Alford plea to one of the charges and faces up to 10 years in prison.

In making an Alford plea, a defendant maintains innocence but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove guilt.

The victim didn’t report the sexual abuse to her family members and police until she was 30 years old, according to a criminal complaint. She told police Shannon sexually assaulted her more than once when she was 14 and 15 years old in 2005 and 2006 in homes in Cedar Rapids and Marion.

The woman gave investigators details about three incidents — two when she was 14 and one when she was 15, the complaint stated.

Iowa lawmakers eliminated the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children, including sexual abuse, incest, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, in 2021.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Monica Slaughter said she will seek the 10-year prison sentence, but the defense may argue for probation.

Shannon previously was convicted of incest in 2015 and received five years of probation.

He also faces a special sentence of lifetime parole and sex offender registry requirements following any prison term.

Several months ago, a prosecutor found that most of the open sex abuse cases in Linn County have been lingering in the system for over a year — and some since 2021. As of April, there were 80 open cases. The data showed four started in 2021; four in 2022; 12 in 2023; 39 in 2024; and 19 so far this year, according to the Linn County Attorney’s Office.

Shannon’s trial had been reset 11 times since he was charged in 2022, according to court records.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks and 6th Judicial District Chief Judge Lars Anderson told The Gazette in April they had been working to move these cases forward. The court has implemented additional case management conferences to address any issues and the judges have been setting firm trial dates, granting continuances only under “exceptional” situations or circumstances, according to the worksheets filed after the conferences.

In another of the sex abuse cases pending since 2022, Anderson recently “specially assigned” a judge to preside over it, which isn’t common practice, according to court documents.

This case also has been continued 11 times, so if there’s only one judge reviewing the case it may help track any issues and determine if a continuance is warranted. During pretrial hearings, different judges typically review sex abuse cases with the defense and prosecution during case management conferences.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette.

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