Former Iowa City business owner sentenced in assault of employee in 2015

IOWA CITY - A former Iowa City business owner accused of assaulting one of his employees nearly two years ago was sentenced this week to up to four years in prison.

According to court records, Don Born, 51, of Solon on Monday pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. The offense is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. His plea deal indicates the two sentences will be served consecutively.

At the time of the June 11, 2015 assault, Born was the owner of Iowa Business Supply, 804 S. Capitol St. Iowa City police said Born and a female employee were in the office together around 4 p.m.

At the time of his arrest, police said Born grabbed the woman by the back of her head and smashed her face into a desk. He also punched her in the face and threw her against a shelf.

Police said the woman was able to 'temporarily reason” with Born, who stopped his assault and allowed her to get up. Both the victim and Born were hospitalized after the incident.

A no contact order barring Born from contacting the victim was extended for an additional five years.

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