Douglas James Young, Jr., who faces 40 sex-abuse related charges, filed motions on March 29 to disqualify two judges from hearing his case.
The supporting affidavits state that Young has discussed the possible judge assignments with his attorney and he does not believe he can have a fair or impartial trial or other hearings in front of Linn County Circuit Judges Carol R. Bispham or DeAnn L. Novotny.
Young’s next hearing is scheduled for April 17, before Bispham.
Young hired Jason E. Thompson, of Ferder, Casebeer, French & Thompson, LLP, to represent him after attorney Arnold Poole filed a motion on March 20 to withdraw.
Judge Daniel Murphy signed the order, which states Poole’s motion and supporting affidavit shall be sealed by the clerk of the court and will not be made available to public disclosure.
Young, 45, was first arrested on March 14 on five counts of first-degree sex abuse and four counts of second-degree sex abuse.
He was arraigned on March 15 before Linn County Circuit Judge David E. Delsman. His bail was set at $150,000.
He posted bail on March 15 and was arrested again the next day and was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on March 17 on 34 more counts of sex abuse.
He posted bail again, which was set at an additional $150,000 for a total of $300,000, on March 17, with a condition of his release to not have contact with the alleged victims or their families or unsupervised contact with children.
The alleged incidents of sex abuse occurred between 2002 and February of this year, according to court documents.
Young faces 15 counts of first-degree sex abuse, a class B felony; nine counts of second-degree sex abuse, a class C felony; nine counts of second-degree sodomy, a class B felony; and four counts of third-degree sex abuse, which is a class A misdemeanor. He also was charged with one count of third-degree attempted sex abuse, a class B misdemeanor; two counts of using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, a class A felony.
Young’s arrest is the result of an investigation that began on Feb. 28, 2017 when it was reported that Young had inappropriate contact with a minor. During the course of the investigation, additional victims, who are now adults, were contacted and interviewed.
At the time this was reported to law enforcement, Young was an active Boys Scouts of America leader, according to an LPD news release. At this time, there is no information indicating that these crimes took place during a Boy Scout-affiliated event.
LPD has had contact with Young over the past 12 years, including two times for alleged sex abuse. No charges were filed in those instances.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges are anticipated.
Anyone with information in regards to this case, may contact LPD Det. Ryan Padua at 541-258-4325.