The trial of a former north-central Iowa lawmaker who’s accused of sexually assaulting his wife is scheduled to start today. Henry Rayhons has been charged with third-degree sexual abuse after allegedly having sex with his late wife Donna Lou while she was living in a Garner care facility.
Rayhons was told soon after Donna Lou was moved into the care facility that she no longer was capable of legally consenting to have sex as she was suffering from dementia. Prosecutors say he ignored that message. Donna Lou died last August, days before prosecutors filed the charge against him.
Rayhons decided not to run for reelection to his Iowa House District 8 seat after being charged. The trial is expected to last eight days, with jury selection scheduled for today and Thursday.
(Reporting by Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City)