Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Steen, Minnesota man found guilty in May in a sex abuse case in Lyon County has been sentenced. But he has appealed the verdict.
According to criminal complaints filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the county sheriff’s office, 22-year-old Ender Murray of Steen was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with a 13-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim. The complaints do not say if the victim was the same person both times. He was also accused of damaging a headstone at the Lester Cemetery.
According to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office, it was a bench trial, involving no jury, with the verdict rendered by the judge.
Murray was charged with one count of second-degree sexual abuse, a class B felony; one count of third-degree sexual abuse, a class C felony; two counts of lascivious acts with a child, a class C felony; and one count of second-degree criminal mischief, a class D felony.
The court found him guilty of second-degree sexual abuse, both counts of lascivious acts with a child, and third-degree sexual abuse of a child victim, but the criminal mischief count was dismissed.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the second-degree charge, and ten years apiece on each lascivious acts charge and the third-degree charge, but the sentences are to run concurrently, or at the same time, resulting in a 25-year prison term. After any prison time, he will be treated as if on parole for life.
But, on Monday morning, the court received a certified notice of Murray’s appeal.
