CLEAR LAKE – A Clear Lake man is facing multiple felony charges, including third-degree sexual abuse, following an investigation that began with a domestic disturbance late last year.
According to Clear Lake Chief of Police Mike Colby, officers were initially called to a residence in the 200 block of West 10th Avenue North during the early morning hours of December 6, 2025. Upon arrival, police encountered 43-year-old Dario Robert Conaway and arrested him at the scene on an initial charge of domestic abuse. However, as the investigation progressed in the months following the arrest, authorities uncovered further details that led to significantly more severe criminal allegations.
Following a comprehensive follow-up investigation into the events of December 6, 2025, the Clear Lake Police Department determined that a wider range of charges was appropriate. On March 18, 2026, Conaway was officially processed at the Cerro Gordo county jail on a slate of new charges, the most serious being third-degree sexual abuse by force. Investigators also leveled charges of false imprisonment and domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury. The escalated charges suggest a more violent and restrictive encounter than was originally reported during the initial response to the West 10th Avenue North address.
As of his most recent court proceedings, Conaway (pictured at top) remains in custody with several bonds set for his release. Records indicate a $10,000 cash-only bond for the sexual abuse charge, an additional $1,000 cash-only bond for a probation violation, and further requirements related to the domestic assault and false imprisonment counts. In addition to the new charges stemming from the incident on December 6, 2025, Conaway is also facing legal repercussions for a violation of probation dating back to a previous case. He remains held in the county jail as the legal process moves forward in Cerro Gordo County.