Elson faces new sexual abuse charge in Cedar Rapids kidnapping

UPDATE: Keith V. Elson Jr. was charged today in Linn County District Court for last week's kidnapping and sexual abuse  of a 19-year-old Cedar Rapids convenience store clerk.

Elson, 54, of Cedar Rapids, who appeared by video from the Linn County Jail, was charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual abuse. Upon conviction, each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Elson's previous criminal history includes eight charges of driving while barred, more than one drunken driving charge,  two simple assaults, and disorderly conduct charges, according to the Department of Corrections and Iowa Courts Online.

He remains under the the $100,000 cash bond for kidnapping, and Associate District Judge Jane Spande set a bond of $50,000 for the abuse charge and approved a no-contact order recommended by the Department of Corrections and the Linn County Attorney's Office.

Elson is accused of kidnapping Amanda Daniel at knifepoint from Kwik Shop, 1001 First Ave. SW, in the early-morning hours of May 17. Police found Elson and Daniel at his apartment, 1400 Seventh Ave. SW, about seven hours after the abduction.

The victim was treated and released from Mercy Medical Center that afternoon, but Elson spent a week at St. Luke's Hospital, recovering from surgery for the stab wound to his chest. He was released Monday.

No further details of how Elson was stabbed have been released by police.

According to the criminal complaint, Elson was armed with the knife when he sexually assaulted the victim.

Daniel told police Elson sexually abused her after he kidnapped her from the store, according to a search warrant filed Monday.

When officers kicked in the door of Elson's apartment they found him “covered with a blanket and (he) had blood on his face, shoulders, and hair,” according to the search warrant. They found the girl barricaded in the bathroom.

Cedar Rapids Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said Elson wasn't charged by the county attorney's office until Monday, so the taxpayers wouldn't be stuck paying for his medical care.

A few family members or friends were at today's hearing, but they immediately left afterward and didn't make any comments.

Daniel's family released a statement through police that says in part, “The family is very proud of her will to survive. And the family hopes that what happened to Amanda will be a lesson to other victims to turn their fear into the determination to live.”

The statement also asks the media for privacy and says the family will not talk again until after Elson's trial.