NE Iowa Man Pleads to Attempting to Have Sexual Contact with Girl

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree harassment in a Dubuque court for attempting to meet and have sexual contact with an underage girl.

A judge has sentenced Lonnie E. Burns to up to two years in prison. An original charge of child enticement was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.

According to court documents, a woman called Dubuque police to report Burns had sent inappropriate messages to her 9-year-old daughter on Facebook.

The woman told police she posed as her daughter and replied to Burns. She says Burns asked to meet with her.

The woman says Burns arrived at her home and that she and others attacked him until he fled.

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