Sentencing awaits Clear Lake man found guilty of sexual abuse

A Clear Lake man who originally entered an Alford plea in a sexual abuse case but had that set aside by a district court judge has been convicted of second degree sexual abuse.

Amando Montealvo, 61, was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse after being accused of sexually abusing two girls under the age of 12 in Clear Lake 13 to 17 years ago.  He was sentenced for up to 10 years in prison after entering an Alford plea to one count of lascivious acts with a child as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

In January 2018 Montealvo filed a petition in district court for post-conviction relief, claiming that his attorney failed to properly advise him of the consequences of the plea agreement would have on his immigration status. According to court documents, Montealvo is in the United States legally but is not a citizen.

District Judge Rustin Davenport ruled in February that attorney Barbara Westphal did inform Montealvo that he would immediately be removed from the country and that there would be a bar on his legal re-entry if he accepted the plea deal.  However, the judge ruled that Westphal did not advise him that he would be subject to mandatory detention during removal procedures or that he would be subject to 20 years in prison if he attempted to re-enter the United States.

Davenport set Montealvo’s conviction aside, but ruled the original charges should be re-instated. Montealvo has opted to take the case to trial rather than re-enter plea negotiations.

On Friday, July 19, a Cerro Gordo County jury found Montealvo guilty of one count of second degree sexual abuse.  He was found not guilty of the second charge.

When sentencing takes place on Aug. 23 Montealvo faces up to 25 years in prison.