Feb. 27—More than 20 charges were dropped against Gregory Clair, 41, of Creston in a plea agreement between his attorney, Nicholas Bailey, and Union County Attorney Shane O’Toole.
Clair was charged with 21 felonies and an aggravated misdemeanor in December after an investigation into reported sexual abuse against multiple children younger than 12.
Friday, Clair was convicted of one count of sexual abuse — second degree and sentenced to a 25-year sentence of which he is required to serve 70% before he is eligible for parole or work release.
The requested lifetime protective order between Clair and the victims was denied. Instead, a five-year protective order beginning after his release from prison was implemented.
According to a Creston Police report, victims stated many of the acts happened multiple times, including reported abuse spanning more than two years for two of the victims.
The youngest victim was 6 when the reported abuse began.
O’Toole declined to comment on the case.
Clair originally pled not-guilty to all charges, but as a part of the plea agreement, Clair pled guilty to one count of sexual abuse — second degree, a class B felony, in exchange for O’Toole dropping the remaining charges, including charges from an additional victim stepping forward.
The plea bargain process is a negotiation between the prosecutor and the defendant and his or her criminal defense lawyer, on the other. The goal is to come to a mutually-agreeable resolution without taking the case to a trial the outcome of which is uncertain to both sides.
Clair will be delivered to the Iowa Medical Treatment and Classification Center in Oakdale as his reception center. He will receive 85 days credit for time already served in connection to this offense.
It is further ordered Clair shall: — pay a sexual abuse related crimes surcharge of $90. — participate in and complete the sex offender treatment program. — be electronically monitored following his release from incarceration. — submit to DNA profiling. — register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He shall keep said registration current and correct. — pay for all counseling required for the victims. — complete a thorough psychological evaluation and follow all recommendations until maximum benefits are obtained. — make restitution payments for court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
This conviction will be used to enhance any future convictions for any sexually predatory offense.