Teen who was sexually abused over two years now lives in ‘fight or flight’ mode

CEDAR RAPIDS — A teen said the “outgoing, loud, bubbly girl” doesn’t exist now and she lives every day in “fight or flight” mode, having to remind herself to breathe.

The teen, in a victim impact statement read Friday in Linn County District Court, said she “felt the life get sucked out of me over the years” and she will never be the same after the sexual abuse she endured. She used to think she would get in trouble if she told someone what her abuser did.

“I still have nightmares. I still cry,” the teen said.

During her statement, she recounted what Jason Lee Cobb, 46, of Cedar Rapids, who was convicted last year, did to her and how it “scarred her mentally and physically.”

Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill sentenced Cobb to up to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing the girl over a two-year period. It started when she was 13 years old.

Cobb made an Alford plea in October to third-degree sexual abuse. In making an Alford plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but admits the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove its case.

Thornhill dismissed the other six charges of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of lascivious conduct with a child, in accordance with the plea agreement. He also ordered Cobb to serve a special lifetime sentence of parole and comply with sex offender registry requirements.

The numerous incidents were not reported to authorities until the victim was 15 in 2021. She said Cobb sexually abused her when she was 13 years old, starting March 10, 2019, and it continued after she was 14 years old, through March 10, 2021, according to a criminal complaint. He coerced her to submit to the sexual abuse, the complaint stated.

Cobb’s trial had been reset 11 times since 2021.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jennifer Erger, after the plea hearing in October, explained why the plea was offered. Erger initially hadn’t offered a plea and planned to go to trial, but she wanted to make the teenage victim aware of the risks of a trial and also the benefits of a plea.

Erger only offered the plea after the teen and her family agreed to it. She was worried about revictimization of the teen at trial and the overall risks with sex abuse cases.

The case was challenging based on the age of the case, which had been pending since 2021.

“The victim showed strength and resilience in her victim impact statement and being able to confront her abuser,” Erger said after the sentencing. “She was able to avoid the mental and emotional tolls of testifying with her voice still being heard. I am also very pleased with the outcome and that the victim can continue to heal and have closure from the traumatic events that occurred.”

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

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