Sheriff’s officials in northern Iowa’s Humboldt County say Lavista, Nebraska man was arrested Tuesday on a felony kidnapping charge after authorities received a report that at around 2:36-a.m. Tuesday, about the alleged abduction of a young woman from Fremont, NE. 36-year old Valentin Velez was being held in the Humboldt County Jail. If convicted, he faces up to 10-years in jail.

Authorities say the woman had used social media to contact friends and family. Deputies from Humboldt and Wright Counties were able to locate her at 503 McCurry Street, in Renwick. Authorities say the young lady was able to escape the residence and was taken by ambulance to the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital, where she was treated.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in its investigation by the Humboldt County Attorney’s Office, Iowa DCI, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Renwick  Ambulance Service.

Creston Police, last week, received reports from citizens about an incident of vandalism and theft. On Jan. 18th, a resident of the 300 block of N. Vine, reported that at around 6:15-p.m. on that date, someone threw rocks at the window of his home, causing the window to break. The damage was estimated at $100. And, on Jan. 19th, a resident of the 500 block of N. Pine, in Creston, reported to police that sometime between Nov. 24th and Jan. 19th, someone cut two locks off his storage unit at 301 Industrial Parkway, and took a wooden box. The box contained several old coins, miscellaneous Craftsman tools, a Magnatone Guitar Amplifier, a WWE ring, some George Jones and Superman memorabilia. The loss was estimated at $435.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A former teacher in the North Polk Community School District has been sentenced for having a sexual relationship with a teenage student. Court records show Kevin Muehlenthaler, of Ames, was given six years in prison at his sentencing Wednesday in Nevada. He also was fined $625 for each count. A jury had found the 30-year-old Muehlenthaler guilty in October of three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Authorities say a woman told police she had a relationship with Muehlenthaler between November 2013 and July 2014 when she was a student of 16 and then 17 years old. The district says Muehlenthaler was employed from August 2013 to June 2016 and that the district became aware of the allegations only after he left the district.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have recovered a male body from the Des Moines River. The Des Moines Police Department says the body was reported around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, south of the Grand Avenue bridge. Police are investigating. The person’s name hasn’t been released yet.