Clear Lake man loses appeal for 80-year sentence on sexual abuse, drug dealing to minor charges
DES MOINES — A Clear Lake man who pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and distributing drugs to a minor has lost an appeal of his sentence.
35-year-old Christian Vorland was accused of providing methamphetamine to someone under the age of 15 on three occasions between July and September 2022 and one other time in April of 2023. He was also accused of sexually abusing a victim under the age of 16 five times between July 2022 and June 2023.
A criminal complaint stated that Vorland committed the crimes within 1000 of school property. Vorland as part of a plea agreement pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of distributing drugs near school property to a minor, and one count of domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury.
Prosecutors recommended prison time on all counts, with the terms running consecutive to one another, a recommendation District Judge DeDra Schroeder agreed with, sentencing Vorland to 80 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 20 years.
Vorland appealed, saying the district court abused its discretion in imposing consecutive sentences rather than suspended sentences. The Iowa Court of Appeals this week rejected Vorland’s claim and affirmed the sentences.
