Rosien to take plea agreement

WASHINGTON — Former Washington mayor and current downtown business owner Jaron Rosien will enter some form of guilty plea by the end of next week, according to a court order filed in Washington County Thursday morning.

The order said Rosien would “plead guilty to a Class D felony or a misdemeanor,” and directed state prosecutors to file a memorandum of a plea agreement at least 72 hours before a deadline May 9 at 8 a.m. Another court document said the parties had already reached the plea agreement, but that “it will take a short time to effectuate as it is being done in writing.”

The former mayor was accused in January 2023 of third-degree sexual abuse by an anonymous patron at his bar. The man, identified in court records by the initials “AB” said the owner of JP’s 207 touched him inappropriately without consent during a game of pool. If convicted, Rosien would’ve faced sentencing for a Class C felony, punishable in Iowa by up to 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from $1,370 to $13,660.

A sentence for a Class D felony or misdemeanor, in contrast, would be considerably lower, with Iowa Code setting the fines between $150 and $10,245, and a possible prison term of no more than five years.

It’s not clear exactly what sentence Rosien will face under the anticipated plea agreement, and court documents available Thursday morning offered no further hints about any stipulations attached to the deal. It’s also not clear if or how the deal might affect a civil case against Rosien and his business, which appeared to be filed by the same anonymous accuser about nine months after criminal charges were announced.

Rosien declined a request for comments Thursday afternoon.

The development signals the approaching end of a legal saga that has long dogged Washington’s former mayor, who initially pleaded not guilty, but faced over two years of delays as the hearing was repeatedly continued. Rosien spent 12 months on a voluntary, unpaid leave of absence from his municipal position starting shortly after his arrest, but ultimately resigned as Washington’s top city official in February of 2024 amid complaints from every member of the city council.

Prior to his criminal charges, the mayor was widely recognized as a powerhouse of local government, an active volunteer and a widely respected community member, and the explosive allegations against him rattled many in Washington. Rosien entered mayoral office in 2018 in a landslide victory and ran unopposed for re-election in 2021.

He left a complicated legacy behind. Despite the legal drama and concern surrounding his departure, Rosien’s time at the city’s helm was marked by major wins, including favorable negotiations involving an international railroad merger, the opening of a new city hall, police and fire station building, an overhaul to the municipal parking code, and a balanced response to the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other headlines.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com