Iowa man sentenced after groping paramedic in ambulance

By Jeff Reinitz
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

WATERLOO, Iowa — A Cedar Falls man accused of groping a paramedic who was treating him in an ambulance has pleaded to a reduced charge.

Dustan Jacob Devries, 46, had been charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a felony, in the August 2025 incident.

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On Sept. 28, he pleaded to assault on a healthcare worker, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and an $855 fine with court costs and restitution.

As part of the sentence, the judge extended a restraining order to prevent him from contacting the medic for five years.

According to court records, Devries called 911 on the night of Aug. 8, 2025, for an ambulance to go to the hospital for alcohol withdrawal.

In the back of the ambulance, he repeatedly touched the female medic’s arm while she was obtaining his vital signs.

She pushed his hand away and told him to stop, and he grabbed for her vagina, according to court records.

Another medic witnessed the assault, records state.

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