Nevada man found guilty on all charges

Jill Sederstrom

A jury convicted a Nevada man Tuesday of all three counts brought against him, including the sexual assault of an Ames woman in July.

David Morrow was convicted of first-degree burglary, second-degree sexual assault and second-degree harassment.

He faces up to 50 years in prison for the two felonies. Morrow’s sentencing hearing is set for 2 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Story County Justice Center in Nevada.

The jury began deliberations at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after prosecution and defense lawyers made closing arguments earlier.

Morrow broke into an Ames woman’s home and sexually assaulted her on July 13. Morrow attacked the woman in her own bedroom after she returned home from work to change her clothes before going to meet her boyfriend.

Morrow testified Friday that he did engage in sexual activities with the woman, but he said it was consensual.

The woman identified Morrow during her testimony Thursday as the man who raped her.

Mary Howell Sirna, assistant Story County attorney, said in closing arguments Tuesday that Morrow’s story did not make sense.

“What motive would [the woman] have to falsify a rape charge?” Howell Sirna said to the jury.

Paul Rounds, Morrow’s defense attorney, said Morrow was telling the truth.

“He told you the truth,” Rounds said in his closing statements. “The truth isn’t always polished, the truth isn’t always coached.”

Rounds also challenged the woman’s version of the events that occurred in the early morning of July 13. He said there was no forced entry, no sign of a struggle in the woman’s room and no neighbors who heard a disturbance. He also said the woman’s story had not been challenged by any of the investigators.

Howell Sirna said no one challenged the woman’s story because police and medical officials had no reason to believe she was lying. “[The woman] gave them no reason to challenge her story,” Howell Sirna said.

Rounds said he could not comment on Tuesday’s verdict.

Howell Sirna could not be reached for comment.