Cedar Rapids man faces up to 20 years for sexually abusing two children

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man who sexually abused two children pleaded to lesser charges last week and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Delbert Dean Grimm, 81, originally charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, pleaded to two charges of lascivious acts with a child — fondle or touch. Both are Class C felonies.

Grimm made Alford pleas to the charges — meaning he didn’t admit guilt but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to make a conviction.

Two children, a 6-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, reported to a forensic interviewer with UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Child Protection Center that the sexual abuse happened in 2024 at a residence in Cedar Rapids, according to a criminal complaint.

A relative of the children witnessed what appeared to be sexual abuse of the 6-year-old from a Blink camera installed in the living room. She viewed the live feed on her cellphone on June 24, 2024.

Another relative of the children also saw the same thing that day as she walked into the house at the same time, the complaint stated. Grimm told them and police in an initial interview that he had fallen down and didn’t know what “his hands were doing.”

Later, a relative of the 5-year-old boy asked him if he also was inappropriately touched and he confirmed it happened. He reported to a forensic interviewer about another incident and the relative said it would have been about six months before because that’s when the child last saw Grimm.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said he would ask for a prison term at sentencing.

The defense likely will ask for probation.

Grimm’s sentencing is set for Nov. 25 in Linn County District Court.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com