Hiawatha man charged with fondling minors in Conrad

A Hiawatha man has been arrested on a Grundy County warrant and charged with two separate felony counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child stemming from alleged incidents of inappropriately touching two young females in Conrad last May.
           
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, Charles Robert Williams, age 44, performed one of the acts at the BCLUW Elementary School playground on the afternoon of May 13 around 3:00 p.m. and another at a home in Conrad during the same time frame. The report goes on to allege that he fondled the genitals of the victims, both under the age of 12.
           
Williams is no stranger to the criminal justice system, as he’s been involved in at least nine felony cases in Linn County (five of which have been dismissed or closed without details available) and convicted of multiple controlled substance violations. He’s also been found guilty of Assault, Interference with Official Acts and habitually driving while barred. In July, he was charged with Indecent Contact with a Child in Linn County, and court records show that the alleged offense there occurred on the same day as the Conrad incidents.
           
Grundy County Sheriff Rick Penning told The Grundy Register that he was not sure of the connection between Williams and this area.
           
“We just know he was there for a very short time,” he said.
           
A warrant for the defendant’s arrest was issued in November, and he was apprehended earlier this month. On January 2, Williams posted a $20,000 bond while being held in the Linn County Correctional Facility, and his Grundy County warrant was served on January 8. A trial date has not yet been set. 
 
This story is developing. Check next week's Grundy Register for further updates. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here.