A 19-year-old Jefferson man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he sexually abused his 12-year-old sister, who died May 15 in a Guthrie Center arson fire.
According to Greene County District Court filings, Noah Exline, 19, entered a written plea to seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The alleged victim, Melanie “Paige” Exline, 12, claimed the sexual abuse occurred between 2014 and 2016.
Paige Exline and her cousin, Shakiah Cockerham, 16, both of Guthrie Center, died last week in the fire that completely destroyed the house at 1005 Main St. in Guthrie Center. The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office ruled the fire a case of arson, and an investigation in ongoing.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office and the Green County Sheriff’s office are coordinating in the investigation.
The juvenile victims’ uncle, 54-year-old William Long III, and their grandmother, 74-year-old Shirley Exline, were also injured in the blaze. Shirley Exline owns the Guthrie Center property.
Anyone with information related to the fire investigation is asked to contact the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office at 641-747-2214.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
