(Radio Iowa) – A former Webster County teacher is pleading guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Brandon Louis was the choir director at Southeast Valley High School in Gowrie. Louis admits in a plea agreement that he had exchanged text messages with a student that were sexual in nature. Haley Studyvin, a graduate of Southeast Valley, says the messages Louis sent her began arriving later and later at night.

“The texts started as endearing like, ‘You’re one of my favorites, you know. You’re going to do great things,'” she says. “He’d always throw in a lot of, ‘I’m not supposed to be doing this. I could get fired for doing this,’ and then it progressed into where, by the end of my senior year, he was trying to get me to leave my house in the middle of the night and come over to his apartment and sleep with him.” Studyvin says her eyes have been opened to how often this sort of abuse happens, but she says it took a while before she understood what was happening to her.

“I needed to realize that what he was doing was not because he cared about me,” Studyvin says. “What he was doing was manipulating me and hurting me and putting me in a position that nobody should ever have to be in because it’s not healthy and it’s not safe and you’ll never come out of it feeling good about yourself.” Studyvin says her message to others going through similar situations is that they will be able to heal.

Two years ago, Studyvin told the Southeast Valley school board she and more than 20 other students who had been victimized by the choir director. Louis resigned in October of 2020 and he was arrested in November of last year after a year-long investigation. He’s scheduled to be sentenced December 19th.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Internet Crimes Against Child (ICAC) Task Force executed a three-day operation in the Des Moines Metro. This operation targeted individuals seeking underage juveniles for sexual activity. A total of eight (8) arrests resulted from the operation.

Taking part in the operation were the following agencies: Altoona Police Department, Des Moines Police Department, Iowa State University Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, FBI, Polk County Attorney’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Intelligence-Law Enforcement Intelligence Network, Division of Criminal Investigation-Major Crime Unit, and Division of Criminal Investigation-Cyber Crime Bureau.

The following individuals were arrested as a result of the operation:

James Ehrenreich Reiser, 37 of Des Moines, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

Kevin Paul Weiser, 43 of Des Moines, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

Shijian Ding, 45, of Ankeny, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

Johnnie Bertrum Meling, 40 of Indianola, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a  Class D felony

Kenneth James Jaeger Jr., 55 of Des Moines, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

Damian Lamorn Dudley, 29 of Polk City, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony
124.401(1)(d) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver, a Class D felony

Joshua Michale Lyn Ezzard, 37 of Ankeny, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

Luke Jai Wilkins, 36 of Ames, IA
710A.2A Solicitation of commercial sexual activity, a Class D felony

DES MOINES, Iowa (October 31, 2022) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright County, Iowa. The virus was found in a commercial layer flock, and this is the first confirmed case of HPAI in Wright County in 2022.

“With HPAI continuing to be a significant threat across the country, this is a difficult and stressful time for poultry farmers and egg producers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We have been preparing for the possibility of additional outbreaks and are working closely with USDA and producers to eradicate this disease from our state. With migration ongoing, we continue to emphasize the need for strict biosecurity on poultry farms and around backyard flocks to help prevent and limit the spread of this destructive virus.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council will meet twice this week, in Atlantic. On Tuesday, Nov. 1st, they will gather in a Special Session at 6:30-p.m. in their Chambers at City Hall, to hold a Public Hearing on a CDBG application for an Upper Story Housing Conversion Program. A Resolution following the hearing, says in-part:

1. The City of Atlantic has found a need for affordable housing in the City, and
2. The City proposes an upper story housing conversion project for which an application is being made and administered by SWIPCO in an amount not to exceed $550,000. The developer will contribute any local match in private and public funds to complete the project. The application must be submitted on behalf of a private building owner on or before Nov. 1, 2022.  The project will benefit low-to-moderate income residents.
3. SWIPCO will be hired to administer the services upon the CDBG award.

The Council will act on approving the application following the hearing. The Council’s second meeting will take place at the regular time, 5:30-p.m. on Wednesday, at City Hall.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A 16-year-old male from Shenandoah was injured during a single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon, north of Shenandoah. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says that accident happened on A Avenue at around 3:44-p.m.

An investigation determined the 16-year-old (unidentified) male was the driver and only occupant of a 2009 Pontiac G6 owned by Stephanie Petersen of Shenandoah. The vehicle lost control on the gravel, entered the east ditch, flipped end over end, and reversed ends, prior to coming to rest. The male juvenile was transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by Shenandoah EMS service. The male juvenile was issued a citation for Failure to maintain control of vehicle.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Shenandoah Fire Department and the Shenandoah Ambulance Service

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Monday of 54-year-old Richard James Linfor of Red Oak on an active Mills County Warrant for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense. Linfor was arrested at 12:30 p.m. in Red Oak. He was transferred to Mills County authorities and held on $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A former student at Clarke University in Dubuque is pleading guilty to a terrorism charge after making threats against the school this summer. On August 8th, Clarke University’s Dubuque campus was locked down for about four hours until 24-year-old Rashaud Colbert was arrested in a Chicago suburb. Authorities say he went on social media and threatened to shoot Clarke University’s president and attack campus buildings. A Clarke University profile posted online indicates Colbert majored in business administration and sports management and was preparing to graduate in the spring of 2021.

K-C-R-G is reporting Colbert is pleading guilty to a terrorism charge and will be sentenced December 5th. Court documents indicate prosecutors are recommending a deferred judgement of two to five years of probation.

Clarke University is a private Catholic college with an enrollment of about 12-hundred students.

Adair County (IA) Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests. On Oct. 24th, Greenfield Police arrested 23-year-old Austin Emanuel Nash, of Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. His arrest following an investigation into an accident that happened at around 4:45-a.m. in the Greenfield Casey’s Store parking lot. His Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) registered .245%. A second test at the Sheriff’s Office came back as .234% for intoxication. Nash was released later that same day, with a citation to appear in court.

And, late Saturday night, Adair County Deputies, following a traffic stop, arrested 30-year-old Larry Elwyn Welch, III, of Des Moines, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Inside the vehicle, Deputies found a quart-size Ziplock bag filled with a substance believed to he marijuana, along with multiple THC cartridges for a vape pen. The vape pen was found in the center console, along with rolling papers, a rolling tray, and a marijuana grinder.

Welch was released a few hours later on a $1,300 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports one arrest and an injury accident. Authorities say 39-year-old Harold Ezra Brown, II, of Malvern, was arrested Friday morning, for Driving Under Suspension ($300 bond).

And, an accident occurred Saturday night, resulting injuries to the vehicles’ occupants. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a 2016 Kia driven by 30-year-old Shea Downing, of Pacific Junction, was traveling north in the right-hand lane of the 56000 block of 221^st Street, and traversing a left-hand curve, when Downing lost control.

The vehicle left the east side of the highway and struck three mailboxes/posts, two Century Link internet boxes, and one plastic yard box that were off of the roadway. The Kia came to a stop facing west in the east ditch, sustaining disabling damage.

All occupants were transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital by Glenwood Fire Department medics.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports an Adams County man was arrested Saturday on drug charges, in Clarinda. At around 12:28-a.m., Deputies initiated a traffic stop for a traffic infraction near 16^th Street (HWY 71) and Laperla St. in Clarinda.

During the traffic stop 53-year-old Darryn Lyn Dugan, of Nodaway, was arrested for Possession of a controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 3^rd or subsequent offense (Class D Felony) and Operating while intoxicated (drug) 1^st Offense. Dugan was transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $5000.00 bond pending further court proceedings.

The Clarinda Police Department assisted the Page County Sheriff’s Office with the incident.

Dugan

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.