A judge is allowing a pre-sentence investigation report to aid in the plea negotiations of a Jefferson man that is accused of sexually abusing his sister.

According to court documents, District Court Judge William Ostlund granted a motion made by court-appointed defense attorney Kevin Hobbs for a pre-guilty plea for a pre-sentence investigation report for 20-year-old Noah Exline. Exline is charged with seven Class B Felonies for second degree sexual abuse. Exline is accused of sexually abusing his sister, Paige Exline, seven times in a three year period, from ages 9 to 12.

Paige was one of the two victims that died in a Guthrie Center house fire in May of 2017. The fire was set by Noah’s step-brother Patrick Thompson, who was found guilty of murdering Paige and her cousin Shakiah Cockerham, by a Monroe County jury on October 8th.

Court documents show that Judge Ostlund ordered that the pre-sentence investigation report be conducted by the Department of Corrections as soon as practical and be presented to the Court. Hobbs made the motion for the report because he thought it would help the plea negotiations with the prosecutor, which is the Iowa Attorney General’s office. The prosecution didn’t resist the motion.

A jury trial remains slated for October 30th. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.