20-year-old receives deferred judgment for sexual abuse

CEDAR RAPIDS - Parents of a girl who was sexually abused at 13 said in a victim's impact statement Tuesday that their 'young, innocent, naive” daughter was changed after Raymond Farmer took advantage of her.

'What type of 18-year-old goes after a 13-year-old girl,” the parents said more than once in their statement to the court.

The father in the statement said he discovered a text from Farmer to his daughter and warned him to stay away, but Farmer continued to pursue her. Farmer showed a complete lack of respect by sneaking into his daughter's grandparent's house in one incident.

The 13-year-old not only lost her innocence but also went from a 'happy, fun-loving” girl who made 'straight A's” to having trouble in school and gaining weight, which impacted her self-esteem and confidence.

Farmer, now 20, said he was sorry for everything he did to the child and her family. He asked the court for a chance to change.

Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler gave him a deferred sentence with five years probation based on the pre-sentencing report and his clean record.

Frank Gersh, an Iowa City clinical psychologist, who evaluated Farmer, testified he was at the lowest possible risk level to reoffend and explained he had been in special education classes in high school and at Kirkwood Community College. The testing indicated he was more at the level of a 14- or 15-year-old.

'What you did was not appropriate - you understand that?” Koehler said. 'I think the deferred is appropriate in this case.”

Koehler went on to warn him if he violates his probation, he faces up to fives years in prison.

Farmer pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of lascivious acts with a child in August.

Farmer admitted during the plea hearing that he solicited the 13-year-old for a sexual act April 6, 2013.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jason Burns dismissed the third-degree sexual abuse charge as part of the plea agreement.

Farmer also will have to register as a sex offender, complete sex offender treatment, pay $1,061 in victim's restitution and be on a special sentence of probation for 10 years following the five years probation.