Mason City man pleads not guilty to child sexual abuse charge

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

34-year-old Cleon Mitchell Junior was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on November 19th on one count of second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. A criminal complaint states that Mitchell is accused of committing sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13 between January 1st 2023 and July 15th of this year.

Mitchell filed a written plea of not guilty to the charge on Monday. His trial is scheduled to start on January 28th.

Mitchell is also facing federal charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. A search warrant was conducted at his residence on April 18th, with an indictment stating that a cell phone with pornographic images of a child under the age of 12 was seized. 

Mitchell was released on bond after making an appearance on the federal charges but is currently in the Cerro Gordo County Jail.