A former State Trooper accused of sexually abusing his niece more than
a decade ago in Denison has pleaded guilty to reduced charges in an effort
to avoid serving time in prison.

Thirty-nine-year-old Karl Kluender of Huxley was charged earlier
this year with second-degree sexual abuse stemming from an
alleged incident that occurred in 1993. The Iowa Attorney
Generals’s Office has agreed to reduce the charge to
indecent contact with a child.

The state is also recommending that Kluender be placed on
probation and complete a sex offender treatment program.
In his guilty plea, Kluender admitted to engaging in
indecent sexual contact with his niece who was seven years-old
when the abuse occurred.

Kluender was fired from the State Patrol on April 12th after
being charged. Sentencing is set for December 9th.