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April 20, 2005
Accused child sex offender pleads guilty
An Iowa City man accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl multiple times last year pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and criminal transmission of HIV.
Matthew Powills, 41, formerly of 1956 Flanigan Court, would serve three concurrent 25-year sentences as part of a plea bargain. Powills will be required to serve at least 17½ years in prison before he is eligible for early release.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, Powills declined a pre-sentence investigation report and told prosecutors he wants to be sentenced as soon as possible.
"My hope is that my getting on will allow those to start healing," Powills told the court.
Powills entered what prosecutor Victoria Cole called a "proffer agreement." In short, Powills agreed to plead guilty to the charges and provide prosecutors with information that could lead to the arrest of other lawbreakers.
Cole declined to comment on what information she expects Powills to provide to the state or any details on who else is under investigation and for what crimes. However, Cole said she didn't expect any additional charges to be filed against Powills at this time, adding that the only victim identified is the 11-year-old girl.
Powills originally was arrested and charged Nov. 29 with eight counts of sexual abuse and criminal transmission of HIV. The 11-year-old girl initially told family members that Powills had sexually abused her starting in August until late November, according to court documents. The girl's health status is unknown.
According to search warrant returns filed by Coralville Police detective Jeff Barkhoff:
Powills said he had been diagnosed with HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- about 11 years ago. Videotapes seized by police from Powills' residence showed he and his wife, a former Iowa City Police officer, engaged in unprotected sexual acts with other couples. Powills told police his wife knew he was HIV positive, and the couple had unprotected sex for the past six years. His wife had never been tested for HIV.
Iowa City Police launched an internal investigation, but it was called off when the woman resigned last month, said Iowa City Police Capt. Tom Widmer.
Widmer declined to say what the internal investigation involved.
"We weren't even at the point where we had documented things to make a determination," Widmer said.
Barkhoff said he interviewed Powills' wife during the investigation, but declined to say if she revealed any knowledge of her husband's HIV status.
Prosecutor Cole said she didn't know if the 11-year-old girl would give a victim impact statement at Powills' sentencing. If it happens, Cole said it would be to help with the girl's mental recovery.
"We're working on that," Cole said. "Especially with a child victim, you want to be sure you don't do more damage."
Posted by Nealus at April 20, 2005 02:39 PM
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