CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake man accused of incest has entered a guilty plea in the case.
Todd William Russ, age 45, was arrested and booked into the county jail on November 1 on a charge of incest brought by Clear Lake police. Allegedly, Russ had engaged in sexual contact with a person he is related to; court records didn’t elaborate. He was released 17 days later under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections as he awaited court proceedings.
Under Iowa law, a person, except a child, who performs a sex act with another whom the person knows to be related to the person, either legitimately or illegitimately, as an ancestor, descendant, brother or sister of the whole or half blood, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew, commits incest. Incest is a class “D” felony.
Russ and his public defender entered a guilty plea on January 20. He now awaits a March 23 sentencing hearing.