Mason City man pleads not guilty to child sexual abuse charges

MASON CIT — A homeless Mason City man has pleaded not guilty to child sexual abuse charges.

A criminal complaint accuses 31-year-old  Richard Martinez of two charges of second-degree sexual abuse after he allegedly performed a sexual act with a child under the age of 13 in her bedroom at a Mason City home between September 19th of last year and March 31st of this year.

Martinez at the time of his being booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail was also facing a charge of failure to appear in court.

Martinez filed a written plea of not guilty on Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. His trial is scheduled to start on August 12th.

Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony, with each charge carrying a penalty of up to 25 years in prison.