Clinton man pleads Not Guilty after being indicted on federal criminal charges

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Clinton man indicted on federal criminal charges earlier this month pleaded Not Guilty in his first appearance in federal court.

Adam Young, 33, of Clinton, was previously charged in Clinton County court with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Minor, a Class B Felony, five counts of Possession of Visuals Depicting Minor in Sex Act, a Class D Felony, and two counts of Invasion of Privacy, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

On March 10, a Grand Jury in federal court indicted Young on two counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child. Click here to read the recently unsealed charges.

On March 17, Young appeared in federal court remotely for arraignment where he pled Not Guilty, court documents show.

The Court ordered Young to remain in jail as he awaits trial, citing, ‘There is a serious risk that the Defendant will endanger the safety of another person or the community.’

A trial is tentatively scheduled to begin April 27, court documents show.

A Status Conference, for counsel only, is set for April 7 in Davenport.

Clinton County.

According to Iowa court documents, on March 10, Clinton County prosecutors filed a motion to outright dismiss their case against Young for the following reasons:

• [Young] has been indicted on federal criminal charges based upon the same facts that are a basis for state charges herein.

• A federal warrant and detainer have been issued, and Federal charges carry a more significant penalty than the state charges.

• This matter requires dismissal so that the federal matter can proceed.

On March 11, the case in Clinton County was dismissed. On March 12, Young was taken into federal custody by the U.S. Marshals Service on no bond.

It is unclear where he is being detained.

Continue reading below to learn about the allegations in connection to the original Clinton County charges.

Local allegations.

In July, a witness told police his friend had been given a cell phone by Young in June after his own phone stopped working, where he discovered several inappropriate videos of an 11-year-old girl, affidavits show.

The witness discovered the phone was still logged into Young’s Google account allowing photos and videos to sync to the device as they were added to the account.

The witness voluntarily turned the phone over to police, affidavits show.

After obtaining a search warrant for the cell phone, investigators confirmed the device was actively logged into Young’s Google account, and found multiple videos showing the private bedroom and bathroom used by an 11-year-old girl, through a peephole and under door frames.

There were also videos showing the girl swimming in a pool, affidavits show.

According to investigators, the videos revealed Young had verbally instructed the girl to change clothes in her bedroom before he returned to the peephole to record her as she was putting on a bra and exposing her bare chest, affidavits show.

Investigators say Young also positioned the camera under a bathroom door while the girl was entering the shower to capture her naked, affidavits show.

Local investigation.

The results of a search warrant on Young’s Google account found the same three videos, of which were created or saved to the account in mid-July, affidavits show.

A review of the data on Young’s Google account showed a search for ‘cctv spy camera app for iphone,’ along with visits to websites related to hidden surveillance devices, affidavits show.

A search warrant on Young’s home found a peephole in a bedroom, and confirmed his home matched the home allegedly seen on the videos, affidavits show.

Investigators say, ‘the circumstances of the videos show that the [girl] had a reasonable expectation of privacy and did not, or could not, consent to being recorded.’

On Dec. 23, a warrant was issued for Young’s arrest. On Christmas Eve, he was booked into the Clinton County Jail.

On Christmas Day, Young appeared in court where a judge found probable cause to proceed with the case.

Latest updates.

MARCH 17, 2026
Young appears in federal court remotely for arraignment. He pleads Not Guilty. Court orders him to remain in custody pending trial scheduled for April 27.

A Status Conference for counsel only is scheduled for April 7.

MARCH 12, 2026
Young was released from Clinton County Jail and taken into custody out of county with the United States Marshals Service.

MARCH 11, 2026
The Court granted prosecutors’ motion to dismiss the case in Clinton County.

MARCH 10, 2026
Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the entire case against Young in Clinton County after learning he had been indicted on federal criminal charges.

FEBRUARY 25, 2026
The Court held a hearing to consider Young’s motion to replace his appointed attorney, but he ultimately told the Court he wished to continue working with Eric Dale and maintain his speedy trial demand.

FEBRUARY 10, 2026
Young filed a motion pro se asking the court to replace his appointed attorney, Eric Dale, of Davenport, claiming he was not being represented fairly. A hearing was later scheduled for February 25 to consider Young’s request.

JANUARY 14, 2026
A pretrial conference is set for Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. Young remains in custody at the Clinton County Jail on a $75,000 cash only bond.

JANUARY 6, 2026
A judge ordered Young’s bond to be cash only, set at $75,000. He remains in custody at the Clinton County Jail.

JANUARY 5, 2026
Young enters plea of Not Guilty.

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