Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court overturns doctor’s child sex abuse conviction

Published

3 months ago

December 23, 2025

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Iowa Supreme Court overturns doctor’s child sex abuse conviction

The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the sexual abuse conviction of a West Des Moines doctor.
The court ruled that allowing the child victim to testify via one-way video violated the Iowa Constitution.
This decision is one of several that has set Iowa apart from other states on the issue of remote testimony.

The Iowa Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a West Des Moines doctor found guilty of sexually abusing a child, ruling that allowing the victim to testify via one-way video violated the Iowa Constitution.

The court on Tuesday, Dec. 23, reversed the conviction of Lynn Melvin Lindaman, a longtime central Iowa surgeon who practiced at the Lindaman Orthopaedics clinic in West Des Moines before he was charged in 2023 with second-degree sexual abuse. The case was remanded for a new trial.

The decision is the latest in a string of rulings that have set Iowa apart as the only state in the country whose highest court has barred one-way video testimony in criminal trials, even in cases involving child victims.

Those decisions already have begun reshaping prosecutions across the state and have prompted lawmakers to launch the process of amending the Iowa Constitution. The change would ultimately require voter approval.

Lindaman, now 75, was convicted after a jury trial in Polk County. Prosecutors alleged that on June 26, 2023, he committed a sex act in Ankeny against a child under the age of 10. A second count of sexual abuse was dismissed prior to trial. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 42½ years because of a prior sexual predatory offense in 1976. He also faced a separate and now-dismissed civil lawsuit from an Iowa woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her in 1975.

The Iowa Offender Search still lists Lindaman as in custody of the Iowa Medical & Classification Center.

On appeal, Lindaman argued that his constitutional rights were violated when the district court allowed the child to testify from another room via one-way closed-circuit television, rather than from the witness stand in the courtroom.

“Today’s decision from the Iowa Supreme Court is an important win for Lynn Lindaman and a major step toward a fair result,” said Lucas Taylor, the attorney representing Lindaman. “Although the court did not rule in our favor on every issue, this ruling recognizes serious errors in the prior proceedings and gives Mr. Lindaman the chance to present his defense to a new jury.”

In a 4-3 ruling issued earlier this year in State v. White, the Iowa Supreme Court agreed with that argument, holding that one-way video testimony violates the confrontation clause of the Iowa Constitution. Writing for the majority in that case, Justice David May said that “when the accused and the witness are prevented from seeing each other, there is no face-to-face confrontation, and the Iowa Constitution is not satisfied.”

The ruling came despite U.S. Supreme Court precedent allowing such testimony and laws in many other states permitting it. Under the Iowa statute the court overturned, judges had been allowed to authorize remote testimony by minors, or witnesses with mental illnesses or disabilities, if a judge found that “trauma caused by testifying in the physical presence of the defendant … would impair the minor’s ability to communicate.”

The White decision arose from an Osceola County case, but its effects have since spread and courts across Iowa have begun hearing challenges from defendants convicted in cases where one-way video testimony was used.

Following the ruling, Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney’s Office, said at least five Polk County defendants convicted under similar circumstances could be entitled to new trials.

One of those defendants, Michael Dunbar, already has received a new trial. Dunbar was resentenced after the victim testified in person from the witness stand, and the court again imposed a life sentence.

Dissent fuels push to amend Iowa Constitution

The State v. White ruling has drawn sharp criticism from prosecutors and state leaders, including Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who has argued the decision unnecessarily traumatizes child victims.

Bird has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow children to testify remotely in certain cases. The measure has passed both chambers of the Legislature once and must pass again before going to voters in a statewide referendum.

“Children shouldn’t be forced to testify at arm’s length from their abusers, and many kids can’t. This opinion shows how important it is to restore protections for a child victim to testify remotely,” Bird said in a Tuesday statement to the Des Moines Register. “Our office will continue to fight for a constitutional amendment to ensure kids are protected and abusers are brought to justice. We are grateful our effort has received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Iowa Legislature.”

Justice Thomas D. Waterman, writing in a dissent in the opinion issued Tuesday, rejected the majority’s historical interpretation of the confrontation clause.

“Thunder comes during rainstorms; it does not follow that thunder requires rain. That video testimony was not used in 1871 tells us more about technology than it does about constitutional interpretation,” Waterman wrote.

He also said there is “no historical evidence that the framers of the Iowa Constitution intended a different meaning for confrontation rights than the Sixth Amendment,” and warned that the majority was reading requirements into Iowa’s Constitution that do not exist in its text.

Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at nelhajj@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.

This story was updated to add new information and to correct an inaccuracy.

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Iowa

Northeastern Iowa man sentenced to 120 years in prison for child sexual abuse

Published

7 hours ago

March 31, 2026

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Northeastern Iowa man sentenced to 120 years in prison for child sexual abuse

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Waterville man was sentenced to 120 years in prison Tuesday after authorities say he potentially committed more than 100 acts of sexual abuse.

54-year-old Jonathon Hilleshiem was convicted of four counts of second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child, and sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.

Hilleshiem was initially charged with four counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and one count of lascivious acts with a child in July 2025.

In August 2025, police executed search warrants and additionally charged Hilleshiem with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.

As part of the investigation, the child spoke to authorities about the abuse.

A criminal complaint shows authorities believe there may be more than 100 acts of sexual abuse that occurred between 2014 and 2020.

Hilleshiem was also sentenced to lifetime supervision by the Iowa Department of Corrections and must register as a sex offender.

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Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair

Published

19 hours ago

March 31, 2026

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Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair

Ready to rock out? Multi-platinum rock band Staind will take the Iowa State Fair Grandstand stage with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17.

That’s not all: breakout Texas rapper BigXthaPlug will deliver his hard-hitting southern hip-hop anthems to the Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Here’s what to know about the performances:

Who is Staind?

Staind is a multi-platinum rock band that’s toured alongside names like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and Filter. Their 1999 album “Dysfunction” contained their hit song “Mudshovel,” their major-label debut, according to Musician Guide.

In 2000, Staind contributed tracks to two compilation albums: the “Scream 3” film soundtrack and a rock tribute to rap music entitled “Take A Bight Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute To Rap.”

Who is Hoobastank?

Hoobastank’s debut and sophomore albums have topped the Billboard charts. Their song “The Reason” hit a billion views on YouTube. Netflix also used “The Reason” in the hit series “Beef,” according to Grammy.com.

Originally a mixture of rock, metal, ska, and funk influences (with saxophones!), Hoobastank is now bristling hard rock. Their platinum-selling debut album in 2001 broke the Top 20 on Billboard charts, which included their popular anthem “Crawling in the Dark.” Their next album, “The Reason” – which pushed them into the mainstream – hit No.3 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, where it stayed for more than a year.

Who is BigXthaPlug?

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug is mixing rap and country alongside big-name country artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker and more. He’s gone from solitary confinement to Nashville’s biggest rapper, according to The New York Times.

“Hip-hop and country music both have the same base, which is storytelling,” he told The New York Times.

When is Staind performing at the Iowa State Fair? When is BigXthaPlug performing?

Staind will perform with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.

BigXthaPlug will perform on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.

Where do I get tickets for the Iowa State Fair concerts?

Tickets for both acts go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. and can be found online at the Iowa State Fair website.

Tickets to see Staind and Hoobastank range between $54.40 and $89.40. Tickets for BigXthaPlug range between $29.40 and $69.40.

What’s the current Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup?

One act remains to be announced for Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets for the following shows are already on sale:

Thursday, Aug. 13: HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
Friday, Aug. 14: Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx
Saturday, Aug. 15: The Red Clay Strays
Sunday, Aug. 16: Lainey Wilson with special guest Tigirlily Gold (sold out)
Monday, Aug. 17: Staind with special guest Hoobastank
Tuesday, Aug. 18: TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
Wednesday, Aug. 19: AJR
Thursday, Aug. 20: Riley Green with special guest Mackenzie Carpenter
Friday, Aug. 21: Not yet announced
Saturday, Aug. 22: BigXthaPlug
Sunday, Aug. 23: Josiah Queen with special guest Ben Fuller

Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.

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Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings Released

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

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Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings Released

The Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches have released team rankings for the start of the 2026 season in Iowa boys high school tennis.

Starting off the year in the No. 1 spots will be Waukee Northwest in Class 2A and Cedar Rapids Xavier in Class 1A.

Iowa City West, Johnston, Pleasant Valley and Linn-Mar round out the Top 5 in 2A while Dubuque Wahlert Catholic, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock complete the 1A Top 5 behind Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Both Waukee Northwest and Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed the team state titles a year ago. The Wolves earned 5-0 wins over both Dowling Catholic and Iowa City West before besting Cedar Rapids Prairie in the finals, 5-1.

Cedar Rapids Xavier silenced Boone and Decorah, earning a 5-3 victory over Dubuque Wahlert Catholic in the championship match.

State Team Tennis Makes Change For 2026

New for 2026 Iowa boys tennis season will be substate team tennis, as the Top 32 teams from each classification advance to participate. Previously, all teams started play in team state just like individual state qualifiers.

Eight substates with up to four teams each will compete. There will be one host site for each substate for the semifinal round and the substate final.

Here are the Iowa boys high school tennis team rankings from the Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches.