The trial for a former South Iowa Area Juvenile Detention Center officer accused of sexual misconduct involving a 16-year-old girl has been delayed until next fall. Forty-nine-year-old Mark Everett Young of Keokuk is charged with sexual misconduct with an offender, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Court records show a pretrial conference originally scheduled for May has now been reset for September 8.
The case began after concerns were raised in October about Young’s interactions with a female juvenile detainee at the Montrose facility. Authorities allege Young spent an unusual amount of time talking with the girl, brought her contraband including snacks and energy drinks, and offered to help bond her out of detention. Investigators also allege Young asked the girl to expose herself, touched her inappropriately, and took photos or video with his cellphone.
Court documents show Young had previously received a written reprimand over alleged inappropriate conversations with female detainees and had been ordered to avoid contact with them unless wearing an activated body camera.
Young pleaded not guilty in February and was released after posting $10,000 cash-only bond following his arrest in December.