Cedar Rapids man to serve 10 years for sexually abusing 12-year-old boy

The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was sexually molested in 2006 said Tuesday her son's life was forever changed with the "horrific events" that took place for more than a year.

She said during a victim's impact statement that all she can see when she looks into what use to be her "beautiful brown eyed boy's eyes" is darkness. He became angry, acted out at home and school and has gotten into trouble with police three times over the last several years because of the sexual abuse he endured in 2006 and 2007.

"He acted out - yelling and screaming at home, teachers and even police," the mother said, tearing up at times. "He started drinking alcohol and tried marijuana ... he felt like all of us let him down because we didn't prevent it from happening."

The mother said she didn't know about the abuse until her son told her years later. Her son told her David Fear III, 35, of Cedar Rapids, a former Gazette newspaper carrier, threatened to hurt the boy's grandmother and his family if he told anyone. Fear became acquainted with his grandmother, also a paper carrier, to get close to the boy, she said.

Fear, who entered an Alford plea to lascivious acts with a child in January as part of a plea agreement, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday. The remaining charges of second-degree sexual abuse and third-degree sexual abuse were dismissed.

An Alford plea is when a defendant doesn't admit to the act but admits the prosecution could likely prove the charge.

Fear said before the judge sentenced him that he would follow requirements of his judgment and apologized for "the issues he had with the (victim) and his family."

Sixth Judicial District Judge Stephen Jackson Jr. said he wasn't going give Fear a suspended sentence, as requested by the defense, because of the seriousness of the crime, the pre-sentencing report and Fear's not taking responsibility for the crime.

Fear must also pay a $1,000 fine, $140 victim's restitution and will be required to be on the sex offender registry and the special lifetime parole for sex offenders.