Trial for Cresco Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Boy Scouts Moved to 2025

The trial for a northeast Iowa man facing 10 charges related to sexual abuse of at least five minor victims has been delayed until next year.

James Hughes of Cresco, who turned 74 last month, was arrested in June 2023 on four counts of third-degree sexual abuse, all Class C felonies; and six counts of lascivious conduct with a minor, all serious misdemeanors.

According to the Iowa DCI, a report filed with Cresco Police in March 2021 alleged sexual abuse by Hughes involving a juvenile Boy Scout troop member over several years. Further investigation accused him of sexually abusing four other juvenile boys, also in his troop, with some incidents spanning more than a decade. Criminal complaints show the activity occurred as early as 2008 and as late as 2018.

Hughes has pleaded not guilty to all charges and a trial date was scheduled for July 10th in Howard County District Court. However, after the defense was approved for an extension until August 1st to take depositions in the case, a trial scheduling conference was held last Friday to establish a new trial, which is now set for January 8, 2025.

Hughes has filed motions that he intends to rely on a defense that he cannot be tried for the alleged crimes because they were not reported in a timely fashion.