Today, March 28, 2013, in Muscatine County District Court a jury returned a verdict of guilty on six counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree against defendant PEDRO CAMACHO OLEA. The jury trial began on Monday, March 25. District Judge Thomas Reidel presided.
The evidence at trial showed that OLEA (DOB: 1/28/1968) had sexually abused two girls during the time period of 1998 to 2002. The girls were grade school aged when the abuse occurred. During the time period of the abuse OLEA resided in both the City of Muscatine and in a trailer park in rural Muscatine County.
"I want to thank Sgt. Ardyth Orr with the Muscatine County Sheriff's Department for her work on this case," said Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren. "Her investigation gave me the evidence I needed to present this case to the jury," he continued. "I also want to acknowledge the excellent work done by the staff at the Child Protection Center in Muscatine. They gave these victims a safe place to tell their story and to start the healing process. This case is a prime example of how important the CPC is to this community," Ostergren said.
"Most of all, I want to thank the victims for being so brave. They walked into court and told the jury what the defendant did to them. That takes real courage," Ostergren added.
Each count carries a mandatory sentence of imprisonment for a term not to exceed 25 years. Iowa law provides that the defendant must serve 17.5 years of the sentence before being eligible for parole. It will be in the sentencing judge's discretion whether the six counts will be served concurrently or will be partially or completely consecutive.
After the jury's verdict the court revoked the defendant's bond and ordered him held without bond pending a sentencing hearing set for May 24, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
