Former Oelwein Mayor Will Testify in Sex Abuse Trial

Former Oelwein mayor Jason Manus, on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl, will take the stand in his own defense today.

Manus is charged with sexual assault in the second degree; he is accused of fondling a girl 6 to 9 years old in 2012.

The girl took the stand yesterday, and testified that at the time of the incident, she went to Manus' home to visit her friend, Manus' daughter, but she was not home, and Manus was there alone. The alleged assault took place on a couch, and Manus is accused of threatening the girl not to tell anyone about it.

The girl told her parents and authorities 2 years later, after she was hospitalized for a suicide attempt.

Manus, who was Oelwein's mayor for just over 7 months, resigned last August after he was arrested for the charges.

He was acquitted of 3rd degree sex abuse involving a 14 year old girl in May, but the jury was deadlocked on the second degree charge. That trial had been moved from Fayette County to Chickasaw County on a change of venue; the current trial was moved to Waverly, in Bremer County District Court.

If he is convicted, Manus could face up to 25 years in prison.