A Knoxville man who, according to police and court records, admitted in text messages to sexually assaulting his girlfriend has avoided an immediate conviction after receiving a deferred judgment and two years of probation. The May 21 plea deal keeps a felony off his record for now but requires him to register on Iowa’s sex-offender registry for 10 years and complete court-ordered treatment.
As reported by KNIA - KRLS, 21-year-old Jaxson Willis pleaded guilty on May 21 to invasion of privacy, an aggravated misdemeanor. He had originally been arrested in September 2025 on charges of third-degree sexual abuse and tampering with a witness. At a Marion County District Court hearing, the judge granted a deferred judgment and ordered two years of probation.
The arrest followed a report filed by the victim on Aug. 5, 2025, alleging a March incident at Willis’s Knoxville residence. The Marion County sheriff’s weekly report listed his booking as “sex abuse 3rd, physical helpless” and recorded the tampering charge, according to Marion County Express, which detailed the initial incident and booking information.
According to court records cited by KNIA - KRLS, the victim told investigators she was incapacitated by doctor-prescribed medication at the time of the alleged assault. She later found a video of the incident on Willis’s phone and provided screenshots of text messages in which Willis allegedly admitted to the conduct. The criminal complaint also states that Willis contacted the victim during the investigation despite being instructed not to, which led to the separate witness-tampering allegation.
What the court ordered
Court records show the judge ordered two years of probation, completion of a sex-offender treatment program and registration on Iowa’s sex-offender registry for 10 years. Under Iowa law, courts may defer judgment and place a defendant on probation but can later withdraw that deferment, enter a conviction and impose any authorized sentence if probation is violated; see Iowa Code §907.3. For most qualifying offenses, the standard registration period in Iowa is ten years, under Iowa Code §692A.106.
What's next
Willis will remain under supervision during his two-year probation term and must comply with treatment requirements and the long-term registry rules. If he fails to meet those conditions, the court could revoke the deferred judgment and impose sentence on the original charges. The case remains on the Marion County District Court docket and would return to a courtroom if prosecutors or probation officials seek further action.
If you or someone you know needs support, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center offers 24/7 confidential assistance at 1-800-770-1650 or by texting IOWAHELP to 20121; see Iowa Victim Service Call Center for more information. For case-specific questions, contact the Marion County District Court clerk at the Marion County Courthouse.
