In Greene County district court Benjamin James Ellingson, 38, of Jefferson was sentenced June 16 to a total of 55 years in prison after he changed his pleas to guilty of charges sex abuse and distributing marijuana involving underage females.
Ellingson was sentenced to 25 years in prison on a charge of distributing marijuana to a person younger than age 18. He was sentenced to 10-year terms on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor/ cause to engage in sex act, and on a charge of sex abuse- third degree. He was sentenced to five-year terms on each of two counts of enticing a minor younger than 16 years of age for sexual purpose. The prison terms are consecutive. The sentencing document specifies that if he is released from prison he will remain under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services as if on parole for the remainder of his life. He will also be required to register on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for the rest of his life.
All criminal fines and surcharges were suspended and Ellingson was found to be unable to pay court costs and restitution for his attorney’s fees. He must pay a civil penalty of $250.
Charges against Ellingson in two magistrate court cases were dismissed. In one case, charges of domestic assault abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed. In the other, a charge of violation of a no contact order was dismissed. Court costs were $95.50 in each case. (Sentencing: Honorable Derek Johnson)
Persons pleaded not guilty in district court as follows: James Michael Timmons, 43, of Grand Junction, operating while intoxicated; and Wayne Eugene Royer, 42, of Scranton, driving while license revoked. Trial dates were set for Aug. 22 in both cases.
Cases were initiated against persons as follows: Patricia Joann Day, 65, of Fort Dodge, possession of marijuana; Gene Dillavou, 43, of Jefferson, possession of marijuana; and Joseph Allen Gilpin, 40, of Monroe, operating while intoxicated- third offense and driving while license barred.
