Lillibridge

On Thursday, Holli Lillibridge told Judge John Haney and a jury in Marshall County District Court she would be the first to implicate her husband, Todd Lillibridge, for sexual abuse if she believed he was guilty of the crimes.

Todd Lillibridge, 49, is on trial after being charged with one felony count of sexual abuse in the second degree and two felony counts of sexual abuse in the third degree, all filed against him by Marshall County prosecutors last August.

The frequently emotional testimony by Holli Lillibridge resulted in sharp cross-examination from Marshall County Attorney Jennifer Miller.

Miller aggressively pointed out what she believed were inconsistencies in Hollli Lillibridge’s testimony Thursday compared to testimony given in a deposition last year.

Miller was present at the deposition as was Todd Lillibridge’s defense team. Miller also challenged Holli Lillibridge’s demeanor.

“You were not crying when you gave your deposition,” Miller said.

Miller also confronted Holli Lillibridge’s statements about how much she loved and cared for the victim, a relative. Miller worked to offer evidence conflicting Holli Lillibridge’s interests in the victim from a variety of sources.

Defense co-counsel Jennifer Frese also worked to rebut some of Miller’s charges with questions eliciting a favorable answer from Holli Lillibridge.

With the trial winding down, defense attorneys Chad Frese and Jennifer Frese were joined by Miller and Assistant Marshall County Attorney Luke Hansen in battling throughout the day over a wide variety of motions and objections.

That included the testimony of certain witnesses for the prosecution and evidence offered by the prosecution the defense thought would inflame the jury. Both sides had victories and losses. Regardless, the objections required Haney to periodically call recesses and excuse the jury to consult legal precedent and then return to the courtroom with a ruling.

When questioned by Miller, the 15-year-old victim testified last week the defendant may have initiated sexual abuse starting in elementary school and continued over the years with the most recent incident the evening of Aug. 29, 2018. On Aug. 30 the victim told educators and school support staff of the alleged sexual abuse, the most recent being the evening of Aug. 29.

Marshalltown police were notified by school personnel later that day.

The MPD executed a search warrant the evening of Aug. 30 at the Lillibridge home and collected evidence which the prosecution believes corroborates the charges.

Throughout the trial the defense has worked to challenge the veracity of DNA found on evidence taken in the search.

The defense has also alleged bias by the MPD against Todd Lillibridge.

The MPD also executed a second search warrant Sept. 12 at the home, looking specifically for a cell phone or other device which police were led to believe might contain a video recording of the defendant sexually assaulting the victim. However, that particular item was not found.

When questioned by Jennifer Frese and Miller, Holli Lillibridge said she never made an obscene gesture to MPD Crime Scene Technician Cortney Watson.

Watson testified last week Holli Lillibridge had made the gesture to her while Holli Lillibridge drove away from the home following the presentation of the second search warrant.

Thursday marked day seven of the trial which not only saw Holli Lillibridge testify, but also the defendant’s son, Dalton Lillibridge and the defendant’s mother-in-law, Cathy Arthur of Marshalltown.

Jennifer Frese called other witnesses during Thursday’s proceedings to vouch for Todd Lillibridge’s character, and also rebut the victim’s claim about being beaten periodically with a belt and marks from the defendant were evident.

None of the defense witnesses, including Dalton Lillibridge and Arthur, said they noticed bruises, cuts or scrapes on the victim despite the fact she was seen frequently in a swimming suit.

The defense rested their case late Thursday afternoon. Judge John Haney asked defense and prosecution to review jury instructions, and let him know via email of changes desired.

Haney said he and defense and prosecution will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday to review the instructions before resuming the trial at 9 a.m.

He will give the agreed-upon instructions to the jury following closing remarks by defense and prosecution.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com