KNOXVILLE — John Edward Strelecki, 39, of Pleasantville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Marion County District Court this morning.
Strelecki was charged with the crime for having sexual relations with an underage girl on or around May 15.
Marion County Attorney Ed Bull recommended the prison sentence, that Strelecki be on parole for the rest of his life, once discharged from prison, pay costs, $1,800 in attorney fees and pay court costs.
"Mr. Bull has correctly read our understanding of the plea agreement," Strelecki's attorney, Matthew Boles, told Judge Terry Rickers.
Victim impact statements are sometimes read at sentencing hearings. Bull indicated that the victim in this case declined. Strelecki was given the opportunity to address the court.
"I don't have anything, your honor," Strelecki said.
Rickers followed the recommended sentence. Strelecki, who was not in custody prior to the hearing, was handcuffed and later taken to the Marion County Jail. The Sheriff's Office has been charged with transporting him to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale.
"I was pleased to see Judge Rickers sentence the defendant to the maximum term of incarceration provided by law," Bull commented after the proceeding. " I have said it before and I will say it again, adults should not be having sex with children. I hope that the repeated number of adults being sentenced to prison in our county will serve as a deterrence to others that if you violate a child you will go to prison. I would like to thank Joe Mrstik of the Pleasantville Police Department for his investigative work and the child and her family for having the courage to report this crime to the police."
