MASON CITY – A Mason City man accused of lascivious acts with a child accepted a plea deal on Monday of lesser charges of assault.
According to Mason City police, it was alleged by two teenage females that 27-year-old Michael William Groh fondled or inappropriately touched them in mid-July, 2013. The case was investigated and police applied for an arrest warrant for Groh. He was arrested at his home on September 27, 2013.
Groh was charged with two felony (C) charges of lascivious acts with a child and pled not guilty.
Groh’s trial was continued a number of times until he accepted a plea deal this month on two counts of simple assault. Judge James Drew sentenced Groh to two 3-day jail sentences to be served concurrently. A five-year no-contact order was placed on Groh to avoid the victims. Drew also ordered Groh to pay $4,000 in court fees and other costs.
A Mason City man told NIT that “one of the girls [victims] was my youngest daughter. After months and months of rescheduling of court dates for various reasons, the ****ing puke gets a plea bargain and is charged with 2 counts of simple assault. I just want this **** known for what he’s done and how he got away with it.”
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The parents of one of the teenage girls who made the lascivious acts accusations in this case asked that the following victim impact statement be published:
Victim Statement:
I never thought that staying overnight and babysitting would change my life forever. You were like a father figure to me, I looked up to you. You always said that if anyone in any shape or form hurt me you would put a bullet in their head. Mike is the first one to have ever touched me in such a way, not only did you betrayed my trust but have scarred me for life by touching me.
I was laying on the couch on my back and messing with my phone and Mike was sitting on the couch by my legs playing video games, he then stopped playing the video game and laid down behind me. He started tickling me (which was normal) because everyone would do that. As I try to put my phone into the waist band of my shorts my arms were at my sides, this is when Mike’s hand started to go to from my side to my inner thigh, which scared me. When I tried to move his arm away that is when he took my arms behind my back and put one hand over my mouth and the other hand up my shorts. I was moving around to try to make him stop. Mike inserted his finger, I was moving to get him away from me but that didn’t work. He then whispered in my ear, that if I ever told anyone he would take his son away from me. He had removed his hand after a few minutes from my shorts, and still had the other hand on my mouth and forced my hand on his penis. Once he removed his hand from my mouth, I told him to stop and he stopped like nothing happened. He got up and went to bed in his room where his wife and kid was sleeping. I stayed up all night, sick to my stomach, throwing up, scared, and tried to cry myself to sleep.
This has changed my life and me in so many different ways. When it first happened, I stopped eating, I hid from everyone, I dressed gothic (black clothes), and my parents do not even know this, except for my best friend, that I was cutting my hips. I only did this because, I felt like what he did to me was my fault. I punished myself and tried to escape the pain.
When I am at school I am not able to concentrate, my grades have dropped and when there is a current event in social studies that is brought up with similar situations, I have to leave the room because I feel like I am reliving what he did to me all over again. When I was football manager it was hard for me to be around the coaches because they are the same age group as Mike. I do not trust any men because of him.
This has affected my friends and family, because you did this to me, I have become more aggressive towards guys, I do not trust people, I do not tell them anything, I do not want to be touched, my family tries to tickle me, play around or hug me I back away and say do not touch me. I feel bad they think they are the problem. My friends who know what happened will try to hold me when I am crying, I will tell them no and push them away.
Because of what you did to me, I have a hard time trusting my dad. It hurts my dad because he couldn’t protect me. I cannot babysit at anyone’s house, because I am scared that it might happen again, I am disgusted with my body and feel like this is my fault. Finding out you admitted to cuddling with the other girl and me, and admitted to snapping the other girls bra together made my stomach turn.
I feel that the justice system has failed me, because I came forward with everything and you took a plea deal of simple assault, I feel that I will not be able to protect other girls from you doing this to them.
I feel Mike should be punished, like jail time, he should not be able to go anywhere near children, be a registered sex offender, mental evaluation and probation. Nothing will be good enough for the things that you have done to me, hurting me, breaking my trust, lying, and taking away my innocence, I can no longer be the kid I am supposed to be because of you. You need help.
It also doesnt mean that he took a plea of assault that he did something either. A friend of mine was with someone and she never used pot but she was in a car with and got charged too. She just took a small fine cuz it would cost more to prove her innocence. If he did something he needs to pay the price. But if there’s a doubt in your mind that he didn’t do anything how fair is that to him and his family? ?? If he won’t take a polygraph, how about your daughter…
No DM I’m not tiffany just someone close to the family. I don’t know either way if u r daughter is telling the truth or not. I never said I was in the courtroom but that it seems that the da offered something so little that there were some kind of inconsistencies in the case because if there weren’t they would have hung his ass. In the statement above it says mike was holding her hands and over her mouth and in her pants…. As far as I knew, he only had 2 hands not three???
Usually for a victims statement,the county attorney will gives the victim a paper that has a bunch of questions as an outline that they can answer to put into the victim statement. Examples would be how did this effect you and you family, or what happened, what kind of punishment would you like to see happen (with examples)etc. When there are questions provided as an example, it wouldn’t be easy for a ‘child’ as you see it- but a teenager could clearly write a victim statement like this.
IF it is as you say, “cleaned up and touched up with words and Ideas from the lawyer”. then a victims impact statement is nothing more than a bunch of words that in reality dont mean shit. NOT a true statement from a victim. worthless and also not admissible in a court of law. Maybe thats why it is issued afterwards. Another statement that is issued after the court case is the lawyers closing statements. Which are NOT to be considered as evidence in the case. think about it
Also, what would these girls have to gain from accusing this man of doing these things? I haven’t seen any mention of money changing hands, no lawsuits, or whatever. I’d think that two teen girls making these statements for public record would stand to lose more than they gain. Do you know how horrible kids are to each other these days? Especially the little girls? They are nasty little creatures! There is constant ridicule and bullying without one of them making statements like this.
Why on earth would you think they would give their peers more ammunition? Not to mention a lot of adults in their lives questioning their truthfulness. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all.
I don’t know, maybe my mind is just a little more analytic. I don’t believe that two teen girls would just set out to tear a guy down unless there was something behind it. And a simple crush doesn’t seem to fit. Plus, whoever said it was because the friend couldn’t stay over, obviously she did. 2…
If adolescent and immature children were as smart as you think. we would never see them in the court system or on the news. EVER. However since we DO see them on the news, and read about them, you sir have flawed thinking. They are immature children in the courts eyes. I can only assume (if the girls are guilty of something)that they didnt realize all the trouble and pain this would cause. NOT SAYING ANYONE IS INNOCENT OR GUILTY AS I DO NOT KNOW.
This statement was obviously written by the parents FOR the victim. It contained all the usual sayings you’ve read about and parroted by the parents for the child. Not saying the man is innocent.
Did the parents write this or what??? Sounds like it to me…I’m not defending a sex offender but an innocent man!!! She is a liar!! Saying that she can’t even be close to even her own dad!!! That’s bull shit right there because she has been seen making out with boys out in public places!!! Obviously you people were not in the court room to hear everything…There was inconsistencies that led them to believe the girls lied about it. Until you know all the details then judge.
Obviously I am not aware of the truth here. But I too thought the impact statement was written by someone much older.
@50 Miles=My thoughts exactly. It did not sound like a youth’s statements but much more like someone putting words in he mouth. I am not defending the sex offender in any way but her words do not sound right.
Ann, or should I say Tiffany Groh, since YOU were the ONLY ONE in the court room during the sentencing to support Mike when the victim impact statement was read. I know you don’t believe it, but you know damn well that you saw him on the couch with one of the girls. You know what you said to him about it. You know that you told other people you said it. I think you need to grow up a little bit here. You know you let the friend stay the night, so that lie won’t stick. Grow up.
There were NO inconsistencies to make anyone, that matters, believe the girls lied about anything. If the court believed the girls lied, they would have DROPPED THE CHARGES and let him go with nothing. You are such an idiot. Continue to tell all the lies you can come up with to make yourself feel better. He took the deal so you didn’t have to be a single mom of 2 living is his parent’s basement while he sat in prison.
Let’s all take a moment to thank God that he didn’t possess pot or the law really would have took him to task.
This disgusts me. If the judge wasn’t persuaded by this hearfelt letter then he or she is not human. Please remember to vote in local elections. The fact this judge accepted a plea deal in this case- allowing this guy no sex offender status makes me sick.
What is wrong with all you people blaming the victims!? the justice system failed these girls. they forever have to live with what he did to them. mike betrayed their trust the trust of their parents and stole innocence. and he got a slap on the wrist. that is twisted!! I feel for these girls and their families. being a past. victim of sexual assault i know what they are going through. its sad to me how many of you are taking a pedophiles side and further victimizing the girls . shame on you
By the way…If him and his wife made statements that said he admitted to cuddling or hooking or unhooked a bra..then please take a picture and post the deposition. I’m not taking sides but all of this sounds really strange.
It looks like he accepted simple assault. Sounds like he’s saying he never had any sort of contact at all with them. He’s not admitted to touching or anything… If he’s innocent then good for him and shame on the girls…but if he got off with a slap and he did do this then shame on him! It’s in God’s hands and he works in mysterious ways…ten fold on who is lying…just saying
As far as a lawsuit against the people on here making comments, good luck with that one. Lots of different possibilities on that. Too many variables and no way to pinpoint one person to any one comment. Of course, there could be a lawsuit filed either way… against the people making comments that upset you and against the person that continually attacks the alleged victim. So, careful what you wish for, it could back fire on you. J/S
Just who do supposed they would file a lawsuit against? A lawsuit FOR what? In a case like this, the victim or the victims parents aren’t responsible for the charges against the alleged offender. They file a police report to tell their side of what they say happened. Then they have to be interviewed by specially trained crisis intervention officers. From there, the county attorney’s office gets the information. It is up to the CA’s office to make the decision to file formal charges.
There needs to be tougher & stronger penalties for those convicted of such acts. The victims will suffer the rest of their lives. It’s been 40 years for me, I still look under my bed,under my car, in my back seat, I trust no one. The perp just pays a fine & goes on to the next victim. If it happens to one of my children, I agree, the courts won’t need to worry.
sorry for your pain. I have dated women that have been assaulted and abused. It really messed them up. Not sure if any women can deal with it.
Ya, every man convicted or not needs to pay for the abuse you suffered over 40 years ago. That’s crazy. It’s called the Nancy Grace syndrome.
Has anyone actually looked up ‘lascivious acts with a child’ in Iowa (709.8)- That he plea bargained for? Are you saying that because there was no ‘penetration’ he is innocent? Hmm, sect 709.8 states that he fondeled the victims genitals for arrousal, ect.. This is under iowas definition of what lascivious acts with a child states. If he was so innocent why take a please bargain of fondeling if it never happened. So he is guilty of lascivious acts with a child because he accepted that plea…
well obviously the sexual charge wouldnt stick because there was lack of evidence to convict! Hes not a pedo or chomo, hes the victim in this! Wrongfully accused!
Who offered the plea deal? Defensive or Prosecutor?
The Defense might offer the plea to save the perp time in jail, while the Prosecutor would accept to insure jail time. Juries are funny entities sometimes.
I’m sure you’re right. The county attorney’s office and the trained professionals that interviewed all of the parties involved are surely just out to make this guy look bad. They were bored and just picked a random case to pick on.
Sometimes people never cease to amaze me. LOL
Shame on all of you that is blaming the victims in this situation. As I am reading these posts I am sickened by the ‘adults’ that are ‘mutual friends’ trying to down play what this punk did! Fact of the matter is that Only and I repeat ONLY individuals that know what happened that night is the punk and the victims. He can say what he wants, to try to make him look better. There must have been something’s this punk did or the county attourney would have never pursued it to begin with.
Why do people act like they are so immature to call others names like this? People just need to grow up and take responsibility.
If it was your child who was molested by this pedophile and you watched him get off I bet you would be wanting to do more them name calling.
Speaking of growing up maybe he should let children grow up before he preys on them.
So it is safe to say this puke took a plea bargain to save his own butt. That being said, he knew he would be fried if this case went to trial. Even though he dodged a big bullet and avoid SOR, the truth is out there on Mike truly being a chomo. No matter where he goes, he will be exposed. There are plenty of resources to ensure that will happen and he will live a life of hell as deserved, which his victims do. It deserve, yet he inflicted that life on the victims and families!
wow, if you wish to discuss this, I am more than willing to do so, just not on here. If you are a mutual “friend”, like you claim to be, you know how to get in contact with me. I refuse to discuss this on this site. This is not the place for it. So, ball is in your court. Wanna hash out the details, call me.
Is that how that works? Simple question.. do you
If you think they were lying? Why discuss it in private? You seem to want to put it out there with this article?
I have no control over what North Iowa Today writes about. I don’t work for them or have any pull with their practices. I didn’t write it. I’m just here to defend your statements of things I supposedly said. Are you too afraid to contact me personally? Want to continue to hide behind “wow” ? Obviously you are no friend of mine and only claim that so you can lend yourself some credibility. Put up or shut up.
For the record, “wow” has not contacted me. No one has contacted me. I was pretty sure that no one would. Hiding behind the fake name making nasty comments and tearing down a couple of children, obviously this person lacks any intestinal fortitude. I still invite you to come to me and make those statements to my face, but I highly doubt you will. Nut up or shut up.
Why would he accept the plea if innocent??? Well 87% of people that are charged with a crime are in fact innocent…lots of times people don’t have enough money for a lawyer and end up having to take a plea…or take the risk getting convicted. Research it… The system is messed up on both parts. There’s people out there that are victims…and others that play the system.
I think you are making up numbers, 87% of people charged with crime are not innocent. Perhaps 87% have cases dismissed or some other technicality, but to say they are innocent is not correct.
Nope you nasty piece trash, not related to either victim. Just not a dumbass ho-bag like yourself willing to blame children instead of the perverted man that wanted to bust a nut with little girls. I notice you are defending him behind a fake name, so guess you aren’t too proud to be his “friend” (hooker wife).
He has pictures of the victim still on his facebook account, even though her parents asked him to remove them. What kind of sick person would keep pics of their victim…. oh wait answered my own question.
So does the victim…
Jessica, don’t worry about the pictures, the coward is deleting his fb, couldn’t handle the fact that not everyone wants to kiss the ass of a chomo.
Actually this isn’t his wife, dummy. I’m just a mutual friend and have heard both sides of it and it doesn’t add up on the victims part or perhaps they would have convicted him on lascivious acts instead…
“Wow” you stupid see-you-next-tues, they didn’t convict him because his low life lawyer told him he was better off taking a plea bargain. No innocent person would plead to assaulting 2 children. He had to admit to a judge that he had criminal contact with them, just wasn’t convicted of the sexual element of the crime. Now go find a semi to walk in front of you derangde pedefender. The world doesn’t need chomos or the ppl willing to lie for them.
Also a mutual friend that has heard both sides…
When you have a wife willing to lie in court to protect her chomo husband from going to jail because she is pregnant again while living in his mommy and daddy’s basement… she didn’t want to be a single mommy of two with a baby daddy getting ass raped in the showers of Shawshank!
Facts from the case:
Mike refused a polygraph test. Why? Something to hide?
Mike ADMITTED to cuddling on the couch with BOTH vicitims. He ADMITTED to rehooking one girls’ bra. Why was it undone, Mike?
As for one girl being pissed off because a friend couldn’t stay the night with them? No, there were TWO victims, that leads us to believe that BOTH girls were there, so your argument is invalid and you are a lying moron.
Polygraph tests are in-admissable in court. They are inaccurate. Whether or not a charged person takes one or not is no indication of guilt/innocents.
Do you advocate the loss of our 5th Amendment Rights?
If I had nothing to hide, I would take one. If I KNEW I wasn’t guilty, I don’t care if it is inadmissible. I’d want whatever I could get that said I am innocent.
“If I had . . . that said I am innocent.”
Or you could be guilty, claiming to be innocent, and attempting to use the test to “prove” it.
And if I were innocent; I wouldn’t take a polygraph. I wouldn’t need too, the facts will show my innocence.
@M.Night-If you took the test and it showed you were positive (lying) because the machine was in error, how would you like it then. There is just as much of a chance of getting a bad reading as a good one. Machines should never be used to judge people.
Moron- it’s real low to put mikes baby’s name in this as well idiot! That’s what the supposed victims father did…and why didn’t the other girl testify???? Because they were lying!
I don’t see anyone naming any children in this ANYWHERE, except YOU. As for the “other girl testifying”… NO ONE testified, it was a PLEA BARGAIN! There was NO trial. No Testifying. You need to work on your comprehension skills.
If you’re a mutual friend, why don’t you show me where I supposedly put this name out on Facebook. I do not believe I have ever done it, but I could be wrong. I’ll say right now that I don’t recall doing it. However, if I did, it was probably a mistake and I will gladly delete it from my timeline.
Also, if we are mutual friends, you calling me “imbred white trash” is pretty crappy from someone that says they are a mutual friend. Obviously we aren’t friend and you are bitter about…
Are you 100% positive your daughter and friend did not lie??? Why were there inconsistencies with the 2 girls? Why did she have contact with him after she was supposed assaulted?
Are you sure this was the admission? Did you read the transcript or look at the Court file? Were you in Court. I will always look for myself before jumping to conclusions; I think I will look at the Court file if it is a public record..
You are a pitiful person. Posting minor victim’s names is completely low.
Well so is putting his 1yr olds name all over Facebook too tard!
Continued to try and have contact with him after the “alleged” conduct. So before passing judgment onto someone that you people don’t even know…I hope someday your dad, son, or husband doesn’t get the shaft for some little twit that had a crush and lied because she didn’t get her way.
It’s not the whole story with this guy. He’s not a pedophile or a sex offender for that matter. He would never ever even have the thought of touching some child inappropriately even cross his mind! This 13 yr old was to babysit for him and his wife and she’s had somewhat of a crush on him and when they told her she couldn’t have a friend over with her to babysit, it pissed her off. And there were other things as well.. After the accuser cried wolf and almost ruined this man’s life,she…
Whether or not a 13 year old child has a crush on an adult is besides the point. That the adult chose to act on it is the problem. He is the adult, and being the adult he knows better to not do anything that could be misconstrued. Such as lying on the couch with the victim and/or unhooking/hooking a bra. Tell, me, WOW, if there was no truth to this, why did he plead guilty to a lesser charge? He needs to remove all the photos of his victim from his facebook page, now.
I cannot believe the justice system and how it always lets these creeps go. Now he is back on the streets and free to do this same thing to some other girl.
Just find him on a deadend street, darker than dark and kick the whooly f**k out of him. Make sure stomp on his balls a few times.