COUNCIL BLUFFS — A former softball coach who was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a child in Council Bluffs will be released to a residential treatment center.
John Osborn, 51, was convicted Dec. 22, after his second trial, of four counts of sexual abuse of a child. He was sentenced Feb. 1 to a maximum of 10 years in prison.
On Wednesday, Senior Judge Timothy O’Grady ordered that Osborn’s sentence be reconsidered, in part because Osborn has “admitted his conduct and accepted responsibility for his actions.”
“The defendant expressed remorse for the effects his conduct had” on the victim, the ruling says. Osborn has served nine months of his sentence. He will be transferred from the Newton Correctional Facility to the Pottawattamie County Jail and will reside at the Residential Treatment Center in the Bluffs when there is space available.
Osborn will remain a registered sex offender for the rest of his life. The remainder of his 10-year sentence could be imposed on him if he violates his five-year term of probation.
Osborn will also be under parole supervision for the rest of his life. The ruling says he scored low on tests assessing his risk to the public.
He will be required to complete a sexual offender treatment program, among other stipulations.
Attorney Joseph Reedy was appointed as Osborn’s defender after his conviction. Osborn has also filed an appeal to his sentence, which is still active.
“He asked for reconsideration, which was granted,” Reedy said Thursday. “It is uncommon, but the bottom line is the court took in all factors, and he was given a chance on probation.”
Reedy declined to comment further on the case. Attempts to reach Osborn on Thursday were not successful.
Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber said Thursday that, while the county does have an effective sex offender treatment program, his office was disappointed with the decision.
“The victim has gone through four years of hell,” he said. “This case went through two trials, appeals, requests for reconsideration — now he says he is sorry and admits to it.”
The victim was 14 when she was assaulted, according to court records.
The County Attorney’s Office cannot challenge the judge’s ruling, Wilber said.
“Iowa does not allow the state to appeal it,” he said. “The judge’s decision is final.”