Suspect arrested over 10 years after alleged sex abuse

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Police in Louisa County say they have a suspect in custody following a five-month investigation of a sexual assault reported in April, but which happened over a decade prior.

In court records, Louisa County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Kary Conger said he was approached after giving a presentation about online safety to a school in the community, by a student who said she wanted to talk about an incident several years prior in the county.

The officer’s affidavit described an incident where Jonathon Ruth, 29, who was 18 at the time, made sexual contact with a family member who was then less than 10 years old, in an incident corroborated by another family member who walked into the room, and spoke with police shortly after the student’s report.

The affidavit said Ruth moved out of Iowa around the time the girl started telling other family members about the incident. Conger said he made the trip to Ruth’s new residence in Oklahoma, where Ruth “stated he did not remember or know about that incident,” but later said to tell the accuser he was “sorry for his curiosity.”

In a Facebook post, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said Ruth was arrested Sept. 2 and charged with second-degree sexual abuse, two counts of lascivious acts with a child, and one count of indecent contact with a child. He was transported to the Louisa County Jail on Sept. 9.

The court docket shows a no-contact order has been filed against Ruth by his accuser, and shows his bail set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Louisa County Courthouse in Wapello.

The state of Iowa has no statute of limitations for certain offenses when the victim is a minor. According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, the list includes lascivious acts with a child, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, indecent contact with a child, lascivious conduct with a minor, sexual misconduct with a juvenile, child endangerment, sexual exploitation of a minor, and sexual abuse in the first, second or third degree.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com