Men charged in sexual abuse cases change pleas to guilty

Two men charged with sexual abuse involving a minor have changed their pleas.

David Powell II, 24, of Mason City, was charged with lascivious acts with a child, a class D felony, and sexual abuse in the third degree, a class C felony, after he allegedly arrived at a Clear Lake motel to meet a 13-year-old girl and encountered police officers instead.  

Monday, in Cerro Gordo County District Court, Powell accepted a plea agreement and entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual abuse in the third degree and one count of lascivious acts with a child.  His sentencing has been set for Jan. 7.  A charge of possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea. The drug charge stemmed from a July 2 arrest.

Powell continues to be held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail with bond set at $15,000 cash or surety.  He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, $17,500 in fines and lifetime parole.

Marcus DeCarlo Brown, 25, of Clear Lake, also entered a guilty plea Monday to one of the six counts of sexual abuse he was charged with by Clear Lake police.

Brown was charged after turning himself into police after an arrest warrant had been issued for him. The arrest was the result of an investigation that started by Clear Lake police July 29.  Brown is alleged to have had sex with a 13-year-old Clear Lake girl on six separate occasions. 

As part of a plea agreement, Brown pleaded guilty to one count in exchange for the prosecution dropping the additional five counts.  He will be sentenced Monday, Jan. 7, in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

Third-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Brown is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $50,000 bond.