Orange City, Iowa — A Hospers man has been convicted in a sex abuse case dating back to May of last year.
According to a release from the Sioux County Attorney’s Office, 64-year old Michael Dale Montgomery was convicted Thursday (July 11th) in Sioux County District Court, on a charge of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, which is a Class B Felony.
The release says the case arose in May last year when a child at school reported their grandfather had sexually touched them. Authorities say a police investigation revealed the child had previously disclosed the touching to peers and to the child’s mother at least two years earlier. According to authorities, during the investigation, a friend of Montgomery’s confronted him about the allegations, and Montgomery reportedly replied he didn’t do anything the child didn’t initiate first.
Court officials say Montgomery pled not guilty, and Tuesday of this week the case proceeded to a jury trial. On Thusday A Sioux County Jury convicted Montgomery of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, but acquitted him of a separate charge of Lascivious Acts With A Child. Due to the conviction, Montgomery was immediately taken into custody pending the scheduling of a later screening hearing. Montgomery is being held in the Sioux County Jail.
Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree is a Class B Felony that carries a maximum sentence of 25-years in prison.
