FOREST CITY — A Forest City man who originally faced two Class B felony sexual abuse charges is headed to state prison after reaching a plea agreement and receiving a 10-year sentence Tuesday.
James Allan Schaumberg, 60, was sentenced August 25, 2026, in Iowa District Court following his conviction for lascivious acts with a child — fondle or touch child, a Class C felony.
Court records show Schaumberg initially faced two counts of second-degree sexual abuse under Iowa Code 709.3(1)(b), both Class B felonies.
The case originated with the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, which filed criminal complaints in August 2025. Court records list June 1, 2014, as the offense date associated with the original charges.
Schaumberg (pictured at top) ultimately avoided a trial on the two original sexual abuse charges through a negotiated resolution.
On June 24, 2026, the defense filed a written plea identified in court records as an Alford plea/no-contest plea. A plea hearing followed July 14.
The case was then sent for a presentence investigation before Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
Judge Gregg R. Rosenbladt adjudicated Schaumberg guilty of lascivious acts with a child — fondle or touch child under Iowa Code 709.8(1)(a), a Class C felony.
He was sentenced to a prison term not to exceed 10 years.
The court also imposed a $1,370 fine but suspended that fine. Court records further show requirements associated with the sex offense conviction, including DNA profiling and registration as a sex offender.
Three victim impact statements were filed with the court Tuesday prior to disposition of the case.
The 10-year prison term is consistent with the maximum prison exposure for a Class C felony in Iowa. NIT has reported on similar cases before, including a Mason City man who received a 10-year prison sentence for lascivious acts with a child.
In another Northern Iowa case, a St. Ansgar man was sent to prison after pleading guilty to multiple lascivious acts with a child charges.
Schaumberg’s court case began more than a year ago.
An arrest warrant was ordered August 14, 2025, and court records show the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office served the warrant August 21.
A no-contact order was also entered for the protection of the protected party.
The case then proceeded through arraignment, discovery disputes, hearings and numerous continuances during late 2025 and the first half of 2026. A jury trial had at various times been scheduled before the negotiated plea brought the case toward resolution.
After Schaumberg entered his plea this summer, the court ordered the Iowa Department of Corrections to prepare a presentence investigation report. That report was filed August 19, less than a week before sentencing.
Following Tuesday’s hearing, Schaumberg was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Cerro Gordo County Jail records show Schaumberg was booked into the Mason City jail at 4:31 p.m. Tuesday, August 25.
His jail entry lists the offense as lascivious acts with a child — fondle or touch child, first offense. He is being held without bond with a status of “Waiting Transport Prison.”
The use of the Cerro Gordo County Jail while awaiting transfer is another step before Schaumberg enters the Iowa prison system.
Sex-offense convictions can also continue to carry significant consequences after an offender leaves prison. NIT recently reported on a registered sex offender jailed in Mason City on a new charge involving Iowa’s sex offender registration requirements.
Schaumberg remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail awaiting transportation to an Iowa Department of Corrections prison facility.