By Gary Dickson, Editor – Siouxland Observer

Matt Vanderpool’s trial for allegedly committing five sexually related felonies against a minor in North Sioux City has been postponed a second time. According to court documents, the trial will now be held on Feb. 11, 2025, in the Union County Courthouse.

The postponement is due to the addition of charges involving a second victim to the case. According to court documents, the information for the second victim was disclosed to the court on Oct. 23, after the deadline for motions in the case.

The charges involving the new victim are similar to those of the first victim. The second victim had been a sophomore in high school and was receiving tutoring from the defendant to help him with his learning disability during the alleged abuse. In a court document providing the new evidence, the State said the defendant gave the second victim “puberty talks” that involved inspecting and handling his penis to make sure it was growing.

The second victim also said Vanderpool performed oral sex on him while he was asleep and that he woke up during the act. This was a similar incident described by the first victim. In both cases, the defendant faces the following charges:

• Rape
• Solicitation of a minor
• Abuse or neglect of a child
• Sexual contact with a child under the age of 16
• Sexual Exploitation of a minor

Circuit Judge Tami Bern held an evidentiary hearing on Oct. 18 during which she heard testimony from both victims and family members. She accepted the new motion on Oct. 28 following hearing objections from Vanderpool’s attorney D. Sonny Walter. The judge ruled that the testimony was credible and relevant. That the evidence while harmful to the defendant, “is not to the extent that it is an unfair or illegitimate manner.”

On Nov. 4 a bond hearing was held. Judge Bern reduced Vanderpool’s bond from $500,000 to a $20,000 cash surety bond. The defendant’s mother, Roxanna Vanderpool of Spencer, Iowa, paid the new bond.

In granting the defendant’s request for a bond reduction, Judge Bern ordered Vanderpool to meet the following conditions once the bond is met:

• The defendant will not reside at or visit 2 Alcoma Drive, North Sioux City, SD 57049 which was where he was living when he was arrested on May 23, 2024.
• The defendant will have no contact with victims 1 or 2, either direct or indirect.
• The defendant will not come within 500 feet of victims 1 or 2 or places where victims 1 or 2 may be found.
• The defendant will reside with his parents in the State of Iowa.
• The defendant will submit to GPS monitoring by the Union County Jail.
• The defendant will not have any further federal, state, municipal or tribal offenses filed against him.
• The defendant will make every court appearance as ordered.
• The defendant will maintain weekly contact with his attorney, D. Sonny Walter.

A motions hearing for Vanderpool will be held Monday morning, Jan. 6 at the Union County Courthouse in Elk Point, S.D. The plea deadline in the matter of victim 1 is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Jan. 23. A jury trial for Vanderpool in the matter of his five sexually related felony charges is set for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 11, 2025, in the Union County Courthouse.

Kathy Zenner, Union County State’s Attorney said Friday afternoon that she expects Vanderpool’s trial in the matter of victim 2 to not occur until later this year.

Note: All persons mentioned as suspects or defendants in Siouxland Observer crime stories should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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