Lang
7/4/21
A local transient with a colorful criminal history now faces much more serious charges…and possibly decades in prison…after an alleged burglary and sexual assault attempt.
Coralville Police say 53-year-old Gary Leon Duffel II forced his way into an apartment on 23rd Avenue just before 12:30 Sunday morning with the intent to have sexual intercourse with a woman inside. Duffel then allegedly tried to remove the woman’s clothing against her will. As the woman struggled to get away from him, Duffel allegedly broke a chair.
Duffel later told police that he went to the apartment with the intent of having sex with the woman, but she told police she didn’t know Duffel, and had only met him earlier that evening. Duffel later admitted that he didn’t even know the woman’s name prior to going to her apartment.
Duffel, who lists his address as Christ the King Lutheran Church on Mormon Trek Boulevard in Iowa City, has a lengthy criminal history. That history includes reports that he stole a $137 stone turtle statue from Phil’s Building Supplies on Hollywood Boulevard, cut down the flag outside the Iowa City VFW hall, urinated on the front porch of then-Iowa City City Councilor Mike Wright, took his clothes off inside The Nickelodeon and yelled about his then-recent release from the Henry County Correctional Facility, toppled and broke the Irving Weber statue at the corner of Iowa Avenue and Linn Street, and stole a keg off a beer truck parked at the Benton Street Delimart.
Duffel now faces much more serious charges of 1st Degree Burglary and Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse, as well as 5th Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted on those charges, Duffel faces a maximum of over 27 years in prison.
