CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake man is facing the butt end of justice after he entered a guilty plea to despicable crimes, and when things didn’t go too well at sentencing, he instantly appealed his ramifications.
As NIT earlier reported, Clear Lake police brought a case against 43-year-old Cole Alan Gilbertson of Clear Lake, back on March 28, 2025. He was accused of the following crimes:
- SEXUAL ABUSE – 2ND DEGRE (CLASS B FELONY) (alleged date of incident: 06/07/2022)
-
INDECENT EXPOSURE (SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR) (alleged date of incident: 06/07/2021)
Allegedly, Gilbertson victimized a number of children by exposing himself or possible other actions.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Gilbertson on March 31, and he was finally arrested by the Cerro Gordo county sheriff’s department on April 5. He was booked into the Cerro Gordo county jail at 10:30 AM that morning, held on $26,000 cash-only bond. He posted bond on April 8 and was released, under a no-contact order.
After a number of court appearances, Gilbertson finally thought he had a way out, as he and his fancy public defender forged a plea deal with local prosecutors on October 24, and a sentencing hearing was set for December 16. Records show that at the hearing, victim impact statements were read in court, while his public defender read “character letters” apparently bragging about what a great guy Cole is. The judge accepted guilty pleas to the following amended charges:
- LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD – SOLICITATION – CLASS B FELONY
-
INDECENT EXPOSURE – SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR
Gilbertson was sentenced to 30 days in jail on the misdemeanor. He began serving his sentence on that charge at 11:02 AM on Tuesday morning, as he was booked into the Cerro Gordo county jail.
However, Gilbertson was slapped with a 5 year prison sentence along with a swath of other penalties (sex offender registry, sex offender treatment, suspended fine, DNA requirement) on the felony. He and his attorney appealed by the next day and posted an appeal bond. He remains in jail serving the 30 day sentence and will await further court proceedings on the appeal.