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Trial date finally set for former Bluffs doctor in child sex abuse case

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July 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and others have finally agreed on the date a sexual abuse trial for a former Council Bluffs pediatrician will be held. The Daily NonPareil report trial for 69-year old Dennis Seaborn Jones is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19th. Jones, is accused of second-degree sexual abuse for the alleged abuse of a 5-year-old girl. Jones has agreed to waive his right to a jury trial.

The sexual abuse charge is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison. The trial scheduling change is at least the fourth since Jones was arrested in May of 2013. On May 23, 2014, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. As part of a search related to the sexual abuse case, investigators found a large amount of child pornography on computers and hard drives on Jones’ computers.

Jones is currently in federal custody. A sentencing hearing in the matter is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Aug. 15 at the U.S. Courthouse in Council Bluffs.