Iowa City man pleads to sexually abusing 12-year-old girl last year

IOWA CITY — An 18-year-old Iowa City man pleaded Tuesday to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl last year and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Luis Angel Borjas Flores, originally charged with second-degree sexual abuse, pleaded guilty to lascivious acts with a minor. The 12-year-old told authorities he took her to a residence in Iowa City and engaged in sexual acts with her in March 2024.

He will be sentenced March 24 in Johnson County District Court.

Borjas Flores, who was 17 at the time of the crime, asked the court to transfer his case to juvenile court, but a judge denied that request earlier this month, ruling there were no reasonable prospects of rehabilitation in juvenile court because of his age.

The juvenile court could provide some services and treatment to him after he turned 18, which was on Jan. 2, but it would have limited options of being in contempt if he was non-compliance on probation, 6th Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros said in his ruling.

In district — adult — court, there are more options including a deferred judgment or suspended sentence with probation and possible placement in a residential correctional facility to ensure he receives ordered treatment and services, the ruling stated.

Pending trial, Borjas Flores, then 17, had to be moved out of the Northwest Iowa Youth Emergency Services Center in Cherokee to the Johnson County Jail because of his “disruptive and assaultive” behavior at the center. He was moved there after his arrest because there wasn’t a bed at the Linn County Juvenile Center.

Juveniles charged was an adult have to be kept separate, out-of-sight and sound of the adult inmates in a county jail, according to Iowa law.

Judge David Cox ruled last year to move Borjas Flores to the Johnson County Jail until a bed opened up at the Linn County Juvenile Center.

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