Coralville man pleads to sex abuse of 15-year-old girl

CEDAR RAPIDS — A 27-year-old Coralville man Monday pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl in Hiawatha.

Grayson Hunt Dearing pleaded to one of the three counts of third-degree sexual abuse he faced. As part of a plea agreement, the prosecution will dismiss the other two charges of third-degree sexual abuse.

During the plea hearing, Dearing admitted he had sex with the teen between Dec. 1, 2020, and July 4 of last year. He also admitted to being four years or more older than her. He was 26 at the time.

According to a criminal complaint, during a forensic exam at UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Child Protection Center the 15-year-old described the sex acts and how they repeatedly occurred over the seven months.

Investigators also found a “multitude” of text messages between the teen and Dearing “corroborating the allegations,” the complaint stated.

When interviewed by investigators, Dearing admitted inappropriate contact, saying he “made some bad choices,” according to the complaint.

Dearing faces 10 years in prison. His lawyer, Mark Brown, said Dearing will ask for a deferred judgment — meaning that if it is granted, he would receive probation and no prison time. He also could ask the court to expunge his record after completing his probation and paying all fines and fees.

He will be ordered to serve a special sentence of parole and must register as a sex offender for life.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks, during the hearing, said the victim and her family are in favor of Dearing receiving a deferred judgment, but Maybanks is reserving his sentencing recommendation until the psychosexual evaluation and presentencing report are completed.

Sentencing will be set once the presentencing report is done.

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