A Des Moines man is facing 16 counts of sex offenses in Sac County for allegedly engaging in lascivious acts and indecent contact with minors over a three-year span. According to Sac County District Court records, 37-year-old Cody Michael Picard was taken into custody on Aug. 29 after three minors came forward, alleging Picard touched and fondled them from July in 2018 to July 2021, each on multiple occasions. In the criminal complaints, the victims stated Picard’s advances made them feel nervous, giving them the chills and he forced one to lay with him, where the minor felt “squished”. Picard posted a $25,000 bond, waived his preliminary hearing, and entered a not guilty plea. He is facing 9 class D felonies, lascivious acts with a child and 7 aggravated misdemeanors for indecent contact with a child. If convicted, Picard could face a maximum sentence of up to 59 years in prison and close to $152,000 in fines.
