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Iowa school district pays more than $5 million to parents of children abused by classroom volunteer

Parents who have children that attend Starry Elementary School in the Marion Independent School District in west Iowa faced a nightmare situation when they discovered a teenage school volunteer sexually abused a then 5-year-old girl.

According to The Gazette, Logan McMurrin was convicted of three counts of second-degree sexual abuse in January 2017. McMurrin was 15 years old when he was accused of sexual abuse in January 2016.

Two girls in the class that McMurrin volunteered in testified at his trial that he “hurt” them during “rest time” in 2016, when they were in kindergarten at the school. The newspaper reports classroom lights are turned off during rest time and the students nap.

McMurrin was sentenced to the Iowa State Training School for Boys, The Gazette reports. He was released in April 2019 when he turned 18 and will be listed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life.

Under Iowa state law, it is considered a Class C felony to fondle or touch a child’s genitals or pubic area. It is also considered a Class C felony to allow a child to touch someone’s genitals for sexual gratification. If the accused is alleged to have solicited a child for a sex act or inflicted any pain or discomfort on a child for sexual gratification, the charge is considered a Class D felony.

A conviction for Class C felony for sex crimes in Iowa can result in up to 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. A Class D felony can result in up to 5 years in prison and a fine ranging from $625 to $6,250.

In addition to prison time and fines, individuals convicted of sex crimes in Iowa are required to register as a sex offender. The registry includes the offender’s photo, a physical description, his or her address, birthday, their conviction and the age of the victim. Neighbors, potential employers, landlords and people you hope to be in a relationship with will be able to see your profile on the registry, which will most likely make your life extremely difficult.  

People judge sex offenders very harshly – many consider it the worst type of crime.

In the case of McMurrin, it is clear that he sexually abused very young children. However, not all cases of sex crimes are as clear as McMurrin’s case. Some people are falsely accused of sex crimes while other incidents are embellished to increase the potential punishment for the accused.

If you face accusations of any kind of sex crime, an experienced Des Moines sex crime lawyer could make the difference between liberty and lifelong shame. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys at McCarthy & Hamrock, P.C. will take on the toughest sex offense cases, whether they be state or federal in Polk County and Dallas County. Call us today at (515) 279-9700 to set up a free consultation.

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