An Ottumwa man has been sentenced to prison following a case in Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office has announced that 33-year-old Randall Paul Dodds of Ottumwa has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison following convictions for grooming a minor and enticing a minor under age 16 for sexual purposes.

On January 9th, Dodds was sentenced to five years on each count, to be served consecutively. 

The case stems from an investigation in which an officer from the Fairfield Police Department, acting undercover as a 13-year-old female, was contacted by Dodds. Following contact, Dodds proceeded to send obscene imagery and language to the officer, who he believed was a 13-year-old.

Upon release, Dodds will also be required to register as a sex offender for life. For the count of grooming, Dodds will also be subject to a special sentence of parole for 10 years.

The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office encourages parents and guardians to speak with their children about online safety. Topics to include are: not sharing personal information online, reporting inappropriate messages, and understanding that not everyone online is who they claim to be.