Dubuque man to plead guilty to Mason City sexual abuse charge

MASON CITY — A plea change hearing has been scheduled for a Dubuque man charged with sexual abuse in Cerro Gordo County. 

34-year-old Bennett Gonyier was arrested in July after Mason City police accused him of sexually abusing a child under the age of five at a home in northeastern Mason City sometime between July 2nd and July 6th.

Gonyier originally had been ruled incompetent to stand trial, but after treatment, a judge ruled last month that his competency had been restored.

Gonyier was scheduled to have his trial start on January 28th, but court records show a plea change hearing has now been scheduled for January 27th in Cerro Gordo County District Court.