MASON CITY – A Mason City man who claimed innocence in his child sex abuse case changed his tune, pleaded guilty to felony sexual abuse of a child, and got a deferred judgement and probation.
NIT reported in December 2024 that 20-year-old Jackson Elvin Oetken, last known address of Mason City, was booked into the Cerro Gordo county jail on December 4, 2024. A warrant had been issued for Oetken’s arrest on December 3, 2024, after Mason City police brought charges the day before of third-degree sexual abuse (Iowa code 709.4(1)(a) – a class C felony) and third-degree sexual abuse of a child victim (Iowa code 709.4(1)(b)(2)(d) – a class C felony).
Allegedly, Oetken committed these crimes on October 1, 2023, in Mason City.
Oetken, a 2022 graduate of Mason City High School, entered a not-guilty plea in this case in December and was released from jail. NIT later reported in April of 2025 that Oetken changed his plea to guilty and awaited sentencing.
At a sentencing hearing that was finally held on July 15, Oetken pleaded guilty to felony C SEX ABUSE 3RD – CHILD VICTIM-PERSON 4 OR MORE YEARS OLDER, 1ST OFFENSE. Judge Greg Rosenbladt handed down 5 years of probation, ordered Oetken to undergo sex offender treatment, placed him on the sex offender registry, and ordered him to pay $350.00 to Iowa courts. No jail time was included.