DUBUQUE, Iowa — A local man has begun a five-year prison sentence after admitting to distributing child sexual abuse material online, closing a case that began with a late-night arrest more than a year ago.

Andrew J. Meserole, age 51, entered his guilty plea and received the term from Iowa District Court Judge Monica Zrinyi Ackley in Dubuque County District Court. The conviction followed a Dubuque Police probe that identified videos of minors in explicit acts shared on an online platform.

Arrested in January 2025 at his home on five felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, Meserole saw charges streamlined through plea bargaining—a common practice to secure convictions without full trials in resource-intensive digital cases. The five-year term aligns with Iowa sentencing guidelines for mid-level felony sex offenses, factoring in plea cooperation and absence of reported aggravating factors like production or large-scale networks.

Community observers point to the case as part of broader trends in local handling of internet-facilitated crimes, where state prosecution often prevails unless federal agencies intervene for interstate elements. Meserole’s registry listing as a sex offender post-release will impose lifelong monitoring and restrictions.