Williamsburg man sentenced to 25 years in prison for Iowa City rape, burglary

A Williamsburg man was sentenced Friday in Johnson County District Court to 25 years in prison for raping a 21-year-old former University of Iowa student in 2008.

Jonathan Schiefer, 34, was convicted in a non jury trial in March of first-degree burglary and third-degree sexual abuse. Schiefer was found guilty of breaking into the woman's apartment in the 400 block of North Dubuque Street and raping her on April 6, 2008.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill merged the two charges for sentencing because third-degree sexual abuse is a lesser charge of first-degree burglary. The burglary charge is a mandatory 25 year sentence.

The victim was in court with her family but didn't read her victim's impact statement and Thornhill didn't make the statement public.

Schiefer spoke during the hearing and apologized to the victim and his family.

“I truly want to apologize for all the pain she has experienced,” Schiefer said in a lowered voice. “It's hard for me to read the statements she made. It makes me sick….nauseated. I want to also apologize to my parents and family.”

Schiefer said he didn't know how he got to this place in his life. Drugs and alcohol ruined his life.

“It was an act of God that I was back at that apartment and the police arrested me,” Schiefer said.

Schiefer wasn't arrested until July 2008 when he was found in the area of the victim's home peeping into another woman's apartment. He was arrested for trespassing and eventually charged with the sexual abuse and burglary.