Orange City, Iowa — A Rock Valley man has been sentenced to a 25-year prison term after his conviction on sexual abuse and burglary charges.
Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle tells us that 45-year-old Joe Lee Kats of Rock Valley has been sentenced for the crimes of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, as a Habitual Offender, and Burglary in the First Degree by Sexual Abuse.
Kunstle says that in the early morning hours on January 1, 2022, Kats was operating a bus to drive bar patrons to their respective homes. Kats dropped off the victim at her home, then entered the residence without permission. The victim was unable to consent. Kunstle says that notwithstanding this Kats performed a sex act while the victim was incapacitated, then left. Upon waking, the victim realized they had been sexually assaulted and reported it to authorities.
Kunstle says law enforcement officers investigated and the Rock Valley Police Department charged Joe Kats with Sexual Abuse and Burglary on May 20, 2022. He says the State enhanced Kats’ Sexual Abuse charge to a Class “A” felony because Kats had previously been convicted of Sexual Abuse in 2005 and Lascivious Acts with a Child in 1997.
In March of this year, Kats pleaded guilty in a plea bargain to Burglary in the First Degree with the Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, a class “B” felony, and an amended count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, as a Habitual Offender, and was taken into immediate custody pending the sentencing hearing.
On Monday, May 8, the District Court sentenced Kats to an indeterminate prison term not to exceed 25 years, with a mandatory minimum of three years. Additional penalties include lifetime placement on the sexual offender registry, lifetime supervision as if on parole pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 903B, and evaluation as a sexually violent predator pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 229A.
