Riverside man gets prison for sexual abuse

A Riverside man convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on Friday, Jan. 14.

Andrew Swailes, 33, of Riverside, was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 5, 2021. of sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C felony.

On April 30, 2020, when Swailes was 31, he sexually abused a 15-year-old child after providing so much alcohol to the child, they became heavily intoxicated.

At trial, Swailes claimed the victim was to blame for the sex act.

At the Friday sentencing, Swailes requested a deferred judgment and probation, while Washington County Attorney John Gish argued for prison.

District Court Judge Shawn R. Showers ordered prison, telling Swailes, “A 31-year-old man does not get taken advantage of by a 15-year-old girl that is blacking out.”

Under Iowa’s indeterminate sentencing laws, the Iowa Board of Parole decides when inmates are to be released from prison.

According to the board’s Fiscal Year 2021 Report, defendants sentenced to prison under this type of crime serve an average of just 41 months of the 120-month sentence.

Comments: james.jennings@southeastiowaunion.com