Charges Dismissed Against Man Accused Of Sexual Abuse

Charges have been dismissed against a Dubuque County man who was accused of sexual abuse. 41 year old Andrew Jarding of Farley previously was charged in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County with second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child and indecent contact with a child. The case recently was dismissed on a motion by prosecutors, according to court records. District Court Judge Thomas Bitter approved the dismissal. The motion to dismiss was filed by Assistant County Attorney Joshua Sims after the victim recanted her previous reports and expressed wishes for the case to not be prosecuted. According to a report, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reached out to the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department last fall to report the abuse allegation. A girl under the age of 15, whom Jarding knew, initially reported the alleged abuse at St. Luke’s Child Protection Center.