(KIWA Staff Photo)Paullina — A Sheldon man has been arrested on several serious felony sex abuse charges in Paullina.
A criminal complaint filed by the Paullina Police Department in district court accuses 27-year-old Alexandr Vlietstra of sex abuse of a minor. He was arrested on Monday.
In his statement, the officer says that Child Protective Services notified the police department of an intake alleging child sex abuse. A worker took a statement from the child, who is not identified in the report. No age is mentioned except for the use of the term “a child.”
Vlietstra was charged with four counts of sexual abuse in the second degree – victim under 12 years of age. Normally that is a class B felony, but Vlietstra has a current case open, in which he is charged with similar offenses, which would bump these four charges to class A felonies. If convicted in both cases, Vlietstra could face life in prison without parole.
He also faces misdemeanor charges including two counts of indecent contact with a child, lascivious conduct with a minor, and violation of a no-contact or protective order.
A preliminary hearing in this case has been set for September 21st.
At last report, Vlietstra remained in the O’Brien County Jail in Primghar in lieu of bond.
