AKRON, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed sex charges against a former wrestling coach in northwest Iowa. Chad Utesch of Ireton had the charges dismissed earlier this week. They included one count of felony sexual exploitation by a school employee and several misdemeanor counts of the same charge. The judge ruled Utesch, a former wrestling coach at Akron-Westfield High School, did not meet the statutory definition of a school employee at the time of the alleged offenses because he did not have valid coaching authorization.

The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department says Utesch had inappropriate contact with a 17-year-old female student in 2011.