Fairfax man pleads guilty to sexually abusing two teen girls

CEDAR RAPIDS - An 18-year-old Fairfax man pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually abusing two girls, ages 13 and 14, in Marion last year.

Isaac David Hall, who was 17 at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual abuse. He admitted during the hearing to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and to committing a sexual act with a 13-year-old girl, both on Jan. 11, 2013 in Marion.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said the state will recommend at sentencing the two 10-year sentences be run concurrently, for a total of 10 years.

Each charge carries a mandatory sentence of 10 years, but since Hall is a juvenile the defense can ask for a lesser sentence.

Al Willett, Hall's attorney, told 6th Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler that he will ask for a deferred sentence.

Koehler explained that defendants convicted of third-degree sexual abuse also must be on lifetime parole, but if Hall receives the deferred judgment he wouldn't be subject to the special sex offender sentence.

The other defendant charged in this case, Justin M. Purcell, who was 16 at the time, of Walford, is also accused of sexually assaulting the 14-year-old girl that day. According to criminal complaint, the girl described to police how she was forced to have sex with Purcell and Hall.

The trial for Purcell, now 17, charged with second-degree sexual abuse, ended in a mistrial in July. A judge granted the state's motion for a mistrial following questions Purcell's attorney asked jurors in jury selection. The questions implied a guilty verdict would result in prison time.

Vander Sanden asked for a mistrial because jurors in a criminal case aren't allowed to know sentencing ranges or have anything to do with the punishment phase or sentencing. Sixth Judicial District Judge Mitchell Turner said in his order granting the mistrial that the defense's comments were 'impermissible and prejudicial” to the state. There was no viable admonition he could give to the jury to cure the situation, so he granted the mistrial.

Purcell's new trial is set for Dec. 1.