Man faces sex abuse charges after meeting girls through Facebook

Police have found four girls who had illegal sexual relations with a Cedar Rapids man, and believe there are more victims.

Thomas J. Lindley, 20, of 1639 1

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Ave SE Apt. 4, was arrested Monday on suspicion of third-degree sexual abuse. Police allege that Lindley had consensual sex with at least four teenage girls after arranging to meet with them on Facebook.

"Police officers have gut feelings, and the gut feeling is that there may be more victims out there," said Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman.

Hamblin said the sexual acts were consensual, but were illegal due to the ages of the victims.

Lindley was awaiting trial on charges of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and assault causing bodily injury from an incident last September.

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Marion Police Department and the Linn County Sheriff's Office also assisted with the investigation.

Anyone with information that could assist in this investigation is asked to call Linn County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME (272-7463).

NOTE: Comments on this story have been disabled. Also, the original version of this story included an incorrect address for Lindley, as provided by Cedar Rapids police.