Harlan, Iowa — A former Harlan Community School District sixth grade social studies teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and with the purchase/possession of a depiction of a minor in a sexual act, has plead guilty to lesser charges. 32-year-old Eric Robert Croghan, of Harlan, also served as the 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball Coach and Middle School Girls Cross Country Coach. He entered his voluntary/negotiated plea March 29, 2024, to charges that include Nonfelonius Misconduct in Office (A Serious Misdemeanor) and Purchase/Possession Depiction of a Minor in Sex Act 1st Offense (An Aggravated Misdemeanor). He was sentenced to time served, and received a suspended prison sentence, along with two-years probation. Eric Croghan was also placed on Iowa’s Sex Offender Registry April 1st, and must pay fines amounting to $1,285, and a Civil Penalty of $260.

The original charges against Eric Croghan were filed May 8, 2023. According to court documents, a search warrant had been issued February 20, 2023 on Croghan’s person, property, and vehicles. The warrant stemmed from online contact Croghan had in December 2022 via private message on Kik Messenger with an Online Covert Employee (OCE) who was a member of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Jacksonville, FL.

Eric Robert Croghan (IA Sex Offender Registry photo)

Harlan Community School District officials initially placed Croghan on administrative leave in 2023, but then he submitted his resignation for all teaching and coaching positions within the district. The school board approved his resignation.