A sexual abuse case came to a close Monday morning in Greene County District Court when 47-year-old James Exline was sentenced to 75 years in prison.
Exline was charged with a Class B Felony for second degree sexual abuse and a Class C Felony for third degree sexual abuse. He sexually abused is 12-year-old daughter Paige from June 2016 to April 2017. After two mistrials, a jury found Exline guilty of both charges in June in Bremer County. Assistant Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn sat second chair for the prosecution and he was happy to have the sentencing brought back to Greene County. He says while it’s important for those directly affected by his crimes, it’s also important for those not directly affected as well.
“Whether they had children who went to the same school, whether they went to the same grocery stores, the same churches, whatever the case may be, I think the whole community was affected by this case. So to have the opportunity for anyone in Greene County to come and observe the sentence being imposed, I think it’s an opportunity for healing both for those directly affected and those indirectly affected in our community.”
Laehn worked hand-in-hand with the lead prosecutor, State Assistant Attorney General Denise Timmins.
“I was an incredible joint effort. We had a good, collaborative approach. And I think justice was served for the people of this county and for Paige Exline. And that was a direct consequence of the fact that we had such a good working relationship in this case.”
Laehn will be working with Timmins for the next upcoming trial of James’s son, 20-year-old Noah Exline. Noah is charged with seven Class B Felonies for second degree sexual abuse. He is accused of sexually abusing his sister Paige seven times in a three year period from ages nine to 12. Paige was one of two victims that also died in a house fire in Guthrie Center in May of 2017. James’s stepson Patrick Thompson is charged with murder and arson for the house fire and is slated to have his trial in September with a location yet to be determined. Noah’s trial is slated for October 30th in either Boone or Hamilton County.