Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 102 years for child sex abuse

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge sentenced a Cedar Rapids man this week to 102 years in prison for sexually abusing two children -- one for two years, the other for six.

  Buy Photo

Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox on Tuesday ran sentences for seven convictions for Dustin Joseph Burns, 37, consecutively and one misdemeanor conviction concurrently to the others for a total of 102 years, as recommended by the prosecution. The defense had asked the judge to run all the sentences concurrently, for 25 years.

Burns was convicted in August by a Linn County jury of three counts of second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse. He also was convicted of lascivious acts with a child — solicit child for sex act; assault with intent to commit sexual abuse; and assault. The jury deliberated just over three hours following a two-day trial.

Burns must serve 70 percent of the 25-year sentences for second-degree sexual abuse convictions before being eligible for parole, according to Iowa law.

Cox, in his sentencing order, also ordered Burns to comply with the sex offender registry requirement for life, as well as serve a special sentence of parole for life.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks, after the sentencing, said the sentences and the verdicts are a “testament to the bravery of these two girls, who stood up and testified about how they were terrorized.” The two children “suffered in silence” but finally spoke out. He hopes their story will be an inspiration to others to come forward.

“I was proud to tell their story for them,” Maybanks said. “No amount of time will undo the crimes committed on them but beginning today they’re no longer victims -- they are survivors.”

According to a criminal complaint, both girls were sexually abused from the time they were 10 years old. The older girl, who is a teen now, was abused over the course of six years. The younger girl was abused over two years. Both girls disclosed the specific incidents of sex abuse during interviews at UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Child Protection Center, the complaint stated.

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