A Jefferson man was convicted Wednesday of sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter, concluding a judicial process marked by two changes of venue and two mistrials.
James Hubert Exline Jr., 46, was found guilty of one count of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse in crimes that occurred on or around June 15, 2016.
The molestation victim, Melanie “Paige” Exline, 12, of Guthrie Center, died in an arson fire May 15, 2017. The fire also claimed the life of Paige Exline’s cousin, Shakiah Cockerham, 16, of Guthrie Center.
James Exline’s son, Patrick Ryan Thompson, 27, of Nevada, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the girls’ deaths. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 17.
James Exline was arrested Aug. 9, 2017. His legal counsel, Des Moines attorney Daniel Gonnerman, requested a change of venue within the second judicial district, and District Court Judge Gary L. McMinimee ordered the trial moved from Greene County to Humboldt County.
District Court Judge Kurt Stoebe declared a mistrial in October 2017 when he learned that some people in the jury pool were seeking facts in the case before they were chosen to sit on the jury.
A further change of venue was ordered to Cerro Gordo County, where District Court Judge James Drew declared a second mistrial May 2 after ruling that prosecution testimony given by Exline’s mother, Shirley Exline, was in violation of a pretrial order.
The final trial was held Wednesday in Bremer County, with Judge Drew presiding, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Denis A. Timmins leading the state’s prosecution and Gonnerman defending Exline.
Exline was previously convicted in Guthrie County District Court in 2009 of third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child causing pain or discomfort.
Exline’s 20-year-old son, Noah Duane Exline of Jefferson, was arrested in April 2017 and also charged with sexually abusing Paige Exline, his sister. His trial on seven counts of second degree sexual abuse is scheduled for late October. District Court Judge Steven J. Oeth has granted a change of venue in the case.
According to law enforcment investigations, at the time of the May 15, 2017, arson fire in Guthrie Center, James Exline was living at 2264 M Ave. near Jefferson with his wife, Christine Exline, son, Noah Exline, and stepson, Thompson. The family spent the evening of May 14 at the M Avenue house.
Investigations revealed Thompson left the Exline home about 10:30 p.m. May 14 and returned about 3:45 a.m. May 15. The house fire on Main Street in Guthrie Center was reported about 12:30 a.m. May 15.
According to the affidavits filed in the case, “In the course of the investigation, multiple persons who originally told law enforcement that they were with Thompson at the time of the arson have now admitted otherwise.”
The investigation of cell phone records revealed Thompson made “threatening comments” in an April 16 text message to “his mother, Christine Exline, stating, ‘Kill all the bitches with their head games,’ and ‘Yeah, it’s the killing that entices me, sounds so good sometimes.’”
Thompson made statements to law enforcement after the fire that were later contradicted by “independent witnesses and evidence obtained from surveillance cameras,” and Noah Exline told law enforcement “that Thompson told him that if he was questioned by law enforcement, to provide an alibi for him that he had returned home much sooner than he had” on the night of the fire.
Additional physical evidence was also collected during the course of the investigation.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office was assisted in the investigation by the Iowa DCI, the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Greene County Sheriff’s office, the Jefferson Police Department, the Ames Police Department, the Nevada Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol.
