Charles City man’s probation revoked, sentenced to ten years in prison on sexual abuse charge

CHARLES CITY — A Charles City man who was given a deferred judgment and placed on probation for sexual abuse has had his probation revoked and been sentenced to prison.

21-year-old Bradley Eckert was accused of sexually abusing a juvenile female in a Charles City home on March 30th of 2021. Eckert was tried on the charge back in October 2022, but a Floyd County jury was not able to return a unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared. Eckert then entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors in March 2023, agreeing to enter an Alford plea on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony. With an Alford plea, a person does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. In exchange for the Alford plea, prosecutors recommended a deferred judgment and five years probation, which Eckert received when he was sentenced in May 2023.

Since being sentenced, court records show Eckert has violated the terms of his probation numerous times, with previous penalties being serving 180 days in a residential facility and spending seven days in jail. The Iowa Department of Corrections reported Eckert once again violated probation rules by failing to attend sex offender treatment classes earlier this year, as well as being charged in June with a first offense sex offender registry violation.

District Judge Blake Norman this week fully revoked Eckert’s probation, sentencing him to the full Class C felony prison term of ten years. A $1370 fine was imposed but was suspended.