Waterloo man sentenced to prison for alleged sexual abuse of girl
By JEFF REINITZ – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa (TNS)
WATERLOO — A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for allegedly sexually abusing a girl.
Wesley Dale Widner, 41, was originally arrested for second-degree sexual abuse, and he later entered an Alford plea – not admitting guilt but stipulating he would likely be found guilty at trial – to a lesser charge of third-degree sex abuse as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
On Dec. 20, he was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison with credit for time served. A restraining order in the case was extended for five years.
Authorities allege Wesley Widner let a girl climb on him while he was naked and allowed her to touch his penis, according to court records.
His spouse, Jay Nicck Widner, 30, was also arrested in the case for allegedly allowing the abuse, and trial is tentatively set for January. Jay Widner is also awaiting trial for child endangerment charges for allegedly striking the girl and threatening to kill her in 2023.
In the fall of 2024, the Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the termination of Jay Widner’s parental rights to three children. The appellate court rulings only identify the parents and children by their initials.
Jay Widner, the biological mother who identifies with “he/him/his” pronouns, came to the attention of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services for allegedly causing a black eye and bruising on one of the children as part of physical discipline.
Following that, Jay Widner allegedly refused services offered by the department, records state.
Court records state one of the children indicated Jay Widner withheld food because the child was being naughty, and Jay Widner also allegedly told one of the children he didn’t love her and only keeps her because he needs disability money for car payments.
The mother also allegedly told a therapist he was “upping” the abuse to get the child taken away.
Records state the couple also confessed to engaging in oral sex and fondling in front of one of the children.
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