Spencer, Iowa — A former Spencer pastor who was to face up to five years in prison following his sentencing in May — has been released after the court reconsidered his sentence.
Court records say that 52-year old Kevin Grimes entered guilty pleas to 3 counts of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist in May. Three other counts were dismissed as a part of a plea bargain arrangement, according to court records. District Judge Don Courtney then sentenced Grimes to up to five years in prison on each of the charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. In addition, Judge Courtney suspended any fines but ordered Grimes to enroll in a sex offender program.
With the guilty pleas, Grimes admitted to having text conversations of a sexual nature, and sharing nude photos of himself, with people he was counseling, as well as having a sexual relationship with people he counseled.
A motion to reconsider the sentence was filed by Grimes’ attorney in August.
Judge Don Courtney has now ordered that Grimes be immediately released from custody and that he be placed on probation for two years. He ordered that the probation be subject to revocation if Grimes is found to have failed to fairly live within the terms of probation and the law. He is also to complete a sex offender program either in Iowa or California and comply with the sex offender registry.
Judge Courtney says in his order that the court considered Grimes’ “…characteristics; his family and financial circumstances; his criminal record and social history; the circumstances of the offense; the harm to the victim; written statements provided to the court; the victim’s family and the community; the plea agreement; and any mitigating circumstances.”
Courtney says that the Court has determined that the sentence now imposed will provide “maximum opportunity for the rehabilitation of the Defendant and for the protection of the community from further offenses by the Defendant and others.”
The Iowa Department of Corrections says that Grimes was released on Monday from the Newton Correctional Facility in Newton, Iowa.
