Mason City woman pleads not guilty to sexual abuse charge

MASON CITY — A Mason City woman has pleaded not guilty to a sexual abuse charge.

A criminal complaint accuses 23-year-old Destiny Murphy of committing a sexual act with a child under the age of 14 on more than one occasion between April 2021 and April of this year. Murphy was arrested on September 22nd and charged with second-degree sexual abuse.

Murphy filed a written plea of not guilty on Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. A trial date was not immediately available in court records.

If convicted of second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony, Murphy would face up to 25 years in prison.

She’s being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $25,000 cash-only bond.