MASON CITY – Three individuals were arrested and booked after a “sex offense” incident at the Mason City YMCA, 1840 South Monroe Avenue, at about 9 AM Wednesday morning.
Those arrested were: Douglas Howard Petersen, 67; Dennis Clarence Vrba, 68; and David Vaughn Escher, 55.
The three men involved were booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail.
Mason City police confirmed Thursday morning that all three men were arrested and charged with indecent exposure, a serious misdemeanor.
Escher, David Vaughn 10-06-1956
Petersen, Douglas Howard 03-03-1945
Vrba, Dennis Clarence 11-29-1943
249 thoughts on “UPDATED With Jail Pictures: 3 men arrested after “sex offense” at Mason City YMCA”
IH Yas it
Legislation! We need legislation! Block everything until we get legislation!
It came into my mind, perhaps these men only were Europeans? We get naked here in locker rooms and saunas, expose for sure.
Poor guys, I do not understand how they pictures could be published and their addresses too. This is really cruel and harsh. They have had a very hard punishment already, it is like American torture in Guantanamo. I am happy to be European after reading the article.
Man, these guys really stepped in it! What were they thinking? They’re ruined marriages, friendships, reputations, maybe businesses. You might say “They really blew it!”
Sad for wives & families !!
Ice cream jumping jack guy out riding his V.I.P. scooter yesterday. Does that V.I.P. stand for “VERY IGNORANT PERVERT” ?
Aha – I knew it! Jumping jacks is a gateway activity that leads to more serious sexual activity. Just look at what has happened to Dave. So my concern is that we teach kids calisthetics, including jumping jacks. Are we leading them to criminal sex acts?! We need to outlaw them!
Typical Republicans !!!!
Remember this is Iowa where gays come here to marry. In this day and age it wouldn’t surprise me they’ll soon be building locker rooms strictly for homosexuals.
in the hood we just do it in the streets instead of in steam rooms
I am sure the North End of Mason City would be glad to welcome you.
Hi Brea…you said “Why then, if it is such common knowledge, is it that it hasn’t been reported until now?”
Uh, didn’t I ask YOU that question and you just sorta turned right around and asked me the same thing??? According to the two posts you’ll see below, it WAS common knowledge. Of course, we don’t have any proof of that, JUST the same as we don’t have any proof that it WASN’T. So again I ask the question. Maybe you don’t know. Maybe you are just denying it. Not sure. But it sure sounds like a lot of people knew about it and just sort of “shrugged it off”. I guess the bottom line here is this, if you don’t want people to make judgements and acusations, then don’t do stupid things like this in PUBLIC. I would have thought that given their age and business status in the community, this would be as they say a “no brainer”. It seems the only obvious “no brainer” are these three champions. Silly me.
The posts below that you are calling a liar…..
Jumpin Jack FlashReply
August 3, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Several people reported seeing one of them doing naked jumping jacks in front of people making them uncomfortable. I first heard that many years ago. Does anyone think that is normal? Do you guys defending him think that is okay because you might want to do some soul searching yourself.
It’s Fun To Stay At The…Reply
August 3, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I worked at the YMCA for many years—I’m not writing this to trash the Y because I always enjoyed working there, enjoyed using the facility to work out and worked with many great people.
I am female so I’ve never been in the men’s locker room (during regular hours), but know that Dave Escher works out in the steam room and yes he does jumping jacks naked (this is common knowledge around the Y). It is a rule at the Y that you cannot workout in the steam room, however Dave has worked out in the steam room for years and nobody has done anything about it.
Someone should have but the kibosh on this years ago and maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Dave has always done the excerise thing in the steam room. I have witnessed for all of 25 years. It wasn’t a sexual thing just a stupid thing. It ticked many of us just tring to relax but we know what a piss head he is, no biggie.
Management at the Y….Not the best since I have been a member, which is well over 30 years. The truth be known the old Y has this place beat big time but it is what it is. From what I have heard our current person running the Y is gay herself…
Why does her sexual orientation matter. Who cares.
As in the real answer. I guess I also wonder why the people that went to the Y never told this guy to stop his behavior and as a group not talk to him and let him know he was being weird. Or did he only do it around one person at a time so it just made the person uncomfortable?
Dave asked a good question. Wonder what the answer is.
these guys r weird
Hi Brea. It appears you may have overlooked one important FACT in your rant of a rebuttal….
If all that you say is true about the management of the facility…oh yes…I DARE, then why may I ask why was Dave’s behavior at the Y overlooked for so many years? It was very common knowledge. So again…where was all this wonderful management practice and rule enforcement for all that time? Can you enlighten all of us on that?
Previous post:
“Bath houses, saunas, and steam rooms have known to be a place where queers congregate and hook up. This has been common knowledge for years. Makes sense this would happen at the Y!”
I am glad this is out in the open so people can realize just how nuts this kind of behaviour is.
Society was better off when the homo’s were in the closet!
Dave,
The fact that it may have been “common knowledge” is, in fact false. It was never reported to the front desk, or had, in any sense been notified to authorities, until now in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, I can assure you that the staff, like myself, would have done something about it. That is certain. Why then, if it is such common knowledge, is it that it hasn’t been reported until now? Can you enlighten me on THAT?
To “Please go back in the closet,” Society was better off when “homos” were in the closet, eh? Humm, sounds like someone doesn’t understand the concept of Society itself. Times are changing. Move on with it. They are not personally harming you. By bringing this into the argument, you are attacking people that you have never even met. I know several gay/bisexual individuals and they are spectacular beings. This is not to say that these three people in question are necessarily “gay” or “homosexual.”
To Anonymous, my judgement is justified and unclouded. I certainly have a right to be outraged by theses claims seeing as both of my past employers have been unjustly ridiculed. You have not worked in these conditions and therefore have no leave to tell the so called “facts” which, of course, are not true. Also, if you “DARE” I will not do anything about it, but state the facts.
Brea, I really admire you. You have shown courage, backbone, compassion, and an understanding beyond your years. The only problem is that you are trying to reason with people on this site that are none of the above. They are small-minded, hateful, and have nothing better to do than feed off this story.
These men showed incredibly bad judgement. What they’ve done, whatever it was, was wrong, with no doubt. No one is defending them. However, they are not a danger to our community and are not criminals. This hateful venom that is being spewed on this site is disgusting. It’s very easy for people to be hateful under the guise of anonymity. This is a very sad story for many reasons.
Brea,
I commend you for speaking your opinion and defending your employers. I also agree that sexual orientation does not dictate character. However, how many times were you in the men’s locker room? AND… are you close enough to management level that all concerns/complaints might be shared with you? You may be overestimating your position to be informed.
Don’t you “DARE”… all cap’s ??? Exactly what will be your response if someone calls your dare? While I agree with sticking up for your beliefs you seem to have written your post in anger which may have clouded your sensibility. There are a few flaws within the establishments where you have been employed. You seem to be a loyal employee, which will suit you in the future, but so will questioning establishments from within. There are some rotten eggs here… very few probably know all the details, but something is certainly rotten.
I would like to clear up a few things that are absolutely incorrect and outrageous. First of all, I have worked for Dave Escher and Birdsall’s for 4 years. You probably have seen me there. I also have worked for the YMCA for a year also. And I would like to say that some of your comments are ridiculous.
1) Dave is an honest manager and has NEVER had us split our tips with him. EVER.
2) Yes, he may sometimes be a bit harsh with his employees but that is his style of managing. Get over it.
3) The male workers at the Y are some of the most kind and caring individuals I have ever met. They are not “strange” in any sort of manner. You CANNOT judge a book by its cover.
4) I personally know the one who is “running the show” at the Y. I can most certainly tell you that she is running an honest establishment. Don’t you DARE insult her managerial ways.
5) To parents: None of these men have EVER touched your children have they? NO! The Y has your children’s safety and well being as a top priority. I can vouch for that.
6) As an employee, I do get minimum wage. We are NOT paid as waiters. Tips are OPTIONAL and we do not expect them from customers.
7) I have had Mr. Vrba as a substitute teacher many times. He is not a “creepy pedophile” as some of you have portrayed him.
8) MC Resident, you don’t have to work your butt of for a membership. We have scholarships for those who have low income.
9) Yes, there is theft at the YMCA. What you insipid fools fail to realize is that it is YOUR responsibility to lock up your own items! We provide locks for $5. We have a nice sign advertising this statement.
10) As for “no rule enforcement,” that is an absolute lie. Do you have any idea of how many people we have to throw out for disruptive or unacceptable behavior?
11) The YMCA cannot control the members actions. They cannot be accountable. We obviously care, because, if not, there wouldn’t have been a report about it.
I could go all day and nit-pick all of the things that are ludicrous about some of your comments.
Before you all go spouting off speculations and falsely interpreted rumors, you need to get the facts from someone who actually has been through these businesses and knows how things are run.
Thanks for reading and for listening to the truth.
Good for you Brea !
Youth is that light that shines bright and the light we should follow. There is always two sides to any story or person.
Thank you very much for sharing, keep up your good work!
James
This ad paid for by Damage Control 2012.
As responsible adults we can and should self monitor our comments and not involve advertisers nor the NIT staff. After all, isn’t self regulation and establishing reasonable bountaries really what is at the heart of this sad story. Then lets all do the same with our words.
This “discussion” has gone on long enough – it’s time to end the comments on this part of the story and wait for more information from the police, DA, and the Y. The discussion has reached a point where individuals and institutions are being dragged through the mud for no other reason than public entertainment – no useful purpose is being served.
I will make my feelings known to the advertisers on North Iowa Today and will ask them to stop supporting a website that has crossed the line between journalism and muckraking/libel.
Agree
These comments have went on for quite a bit. I am thinking that people are fed up with all the queer crap that is being shoved down our throats.
Like it’s ok. Well, it is not! It belongs back in the closet and this stuff would not be going on at the Y.
Now whose up for some jumping jacks?
We will not miss Dave and his jumping jacks ect in the steam room…I have been a Y member for over the 25 years I have put up with that BS…Dave was always a strange fella
If you have been a member for 25 years and seen this strange fellow jumping naked>> the question then comes in to how many years did u sit idle and not bring it up to anybody>> what did u use the last 20 as entertainment and then jump on the band wagon when somebody finally did something>>>>>my opinion is that your sicker for viewing it without saying anything>>granted jumping jacks naked is actually amassing. place of choice may not be the best>>but u my friend are a classical bandwagon user>> Ill bet the first thing that went through your head was i should have said something before>>>But in all honesty did u>>>sicker than the accused sick…
I am good friends with David and have talked to him multiple times since the incident. I will continue to be friends with him and will not treat him any differently than i did before. this entire comment section is filled with hate from people that don’t know the details; which i do not know either, and do not care to know. All of the comments should be deleted. I do not agree with the decisions made by the people involved but will put it behind me and not judge them.
If you have a problem with this you can meet me at my church this Sunday to talk about it.
–from a 17 year old that seems to have it more figured out than the rest of you.
your a joke and you have some unneeded pride which is one of the seven deadly sins so how about you go to church this sunday and figure yourself out
Thank you for your opinion sir. I’m glad you are able to talk down to people over the internet, I’m sure that impresses the ladies does it not?
When I was 17 I believed in rainbows and unicorns too. And I believed it when old perverts told me “it wasn’t really like that.” When you have kids of your own and you want to take them to the local Family YMCA, I hope these 3 faces pop up in your memory and you will fight to protect your kids against crap like this. Deep in your heart of hearts, you know they are wrong and you have already judged them.
haha its funny because your talking down on everyone who commented, nice try though
Dont you know it is Bush’s fault.
Has anyone seen their faces around town since this all hit the fan? Is the Ice Cream Man still being a pompous ass to his employees or is he enjoying some “Butt Brickle” or “Soft Serve” with his humble pie? Has the holy roller lead his church congregation in prayer since this the charges were filed? I bet we’ll see For Sale signs in yards before too long. When is their court date?
We are getting off topic its about these 3 guys in the looker room.. Not Criminals and cheap Membership Fees????
I agree, we are getting off topic. Who the Hell cares if these guys are gay. What we care about is that they turned the YMCA into a private bath house. The YMCA needs to be held accountable in ths case.
Are the shower curtains up yet?
Do they have signs up yet that say ” towels go around your waist not over your shoulder?
How about a sign that reads “if you are in the locker room for more than 30 minutes then your a weirdo get out!!
Just my two cents
James
I have been a Y member for over 30 years. I have been approached 3 times during this time but I have work on the road during this time and use the Y nearly daily if one is available.
If one is inclined to be attracted to the same sex the Y is a perfect venue. It doesn’t bother me and those three times I made it clear I wasn’t interested.
It is to bad these guys, which I know well, didn’t take there attraction somewhere else but they have to deal with that.
Isn’t that something? Can’t even go to a “family” establishment without some pervert(s) being there trying to get something off. Another place is the Mall, my 10 year old son and his friend were there yesterday. A “creepy” guy came up to them and offered candy. He said it was OK I am a retired sheriff. My son did the right thing and walked away went to a store. You can’t go anywhere! I believe there should be an open season on perverts!
I’m sure that was Duane J. I believe he’s at the mall every day. He is a retired sheriff and as far as I know he’s harmless. Still, you would think he’d know better than to offer young boys candy in this day and age.
I have known Duane for over 35years. He is a retired police officer. I am very sure he would never have offered 10 year olds candy. If this really happened they should report it to the police. What a shame you posted his name on here.
Apparently we’re talking about different Duane’s here. The one I know was a sheriff. What a shame you “assumed”.
Who is running the show at the Y? Would it be so difficult if they enforced their own rules on things? Why haven’t they over the years? Where does the buck stop? Somebody should know.
Bath houses, saunas, and steam rooms have known to be a place where queers congregate and hook up. This has been common knowledge for years. Makes sense this would happen at the Y!
I am glad this is out in the open so people can realize just how nuts this kind of behaviour is.
About time they were charged with a crime.
You can work out by jogging or walking for free or lifting some cheap free weights and it helps your health and maybe even your drug addiction but guess what? I don’t want to pay for other people’s memberships when I don’t feel I can afford my own. Why don’t you pay for my membership? Do you mind?
Here’s what bugs me about this whole mess–
I could care less about the sexual orientation of these individuals, nor do I care about the rantings of commenters here that these guys are somehow perverts or child molestors. That’s ridiculous.
What I do care about is the fact that I am a longtime Y member. I used to workout daily, take steam baths, and use the sauna. I haven’t in a year or two, but was thinking about trying to get fit again and return to those things.
Now, do I really want to use the steambath, the sauna, take a shower, like normal people? Or will folks think I’m trying to have sex or trying to pick someone up?
Before this story broke, I assumed that everyone there was just there for the fitness aspect, now I don’t know.
I would agree 110% with you. NORMALLY, you go to the “Y” or any type of facility with this being the furthest thing from your mind. Now this? Sure, it was 3 grown men, but now I get the feeling that that this is the same bad element you’d find in around the “wacking booths” at the local porno store.
I’m also disappointed in the staff or management of the Y if they knew some of this was going on, like the naked jumping jacks or whatever, that they didn’t put a stop on it right away.
I have asked numerous people, (married and single) how do you come home and tell your family that this happened, THEN have to wait about days from the time this happened until the hammer fell and you were charged with the crime and your picture was plastered everywhere and you were the running (or jumping) joke of everyone in North Iowa??
How do you face your employees, co-workers, former co-workers or congregation….let alone your family?
If someone commits suicide over this whole “sticky situation” I wouldn’t be surprised. Sad, very sad….we all lose on this deal.
You must not have any kids there….Hotels are cheap…these guys were arrested after an investigation….don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time….parents trust the YMCA with thier children everyday at camps and such….and these guy’s whose pics are above are keeping me up at night wondering if my kid is safe there…I could careless about gays either….but the steamroom at the YMCA is not where it should be going on…not a good climate for a child care operation…and It has me up at 3:00 am worried about taking my child there in the morning…and the whole thing is disgusting.
I am also a parent. My child goes to the YMCA day program. Talk to Liz about your concerns. I felt better after I did.
Rahmbo
Heck don’t worry about going to the Y and wonder about what is or isn’t. I currently know two other guys there that are gay but I don’t care. They never have approached me nor would they as I’m pretty sure they know that I’m NOT interested in any of that.
Go work out and don’t worry about the rest. The steam room has made me a much healthier person for years….Would NEVER give that up.
Sad, sad, sad for the families of these men !
Is the Beje Clark comment true? Can someone find out if they get free or reduced memberships?
Hey, JerryD, there’s nothing libelous about speculation, especially when no names were used, and no allegations made. I heard this one myself, and knowing the guy, it sounded very plausible. On top of that, there’s an absence of malice, and malice is required for any public figure to file a valid libel claim.
I doubt if this individual any longer qualifies as a public figure.
I think your speculation is shameful. You say this scenario “fits” based on the fact that this guy is gay.
That could apply literally to hundreds of residents of this area, if not thousands.
no way are there that many perverts in the area
Doesn’t YMCA stand for Young Men’s Christian Association? Not 3 old guys getting it on in the steam room. Won’t be renewing my membership this year.
Ok, so I find this totally amusing that the Globe would run a FAMILY membership for their “TODAY’S DEAL” promo. Way to go GLOBE
oops sorry forgot to include FAMILY MEMBERSHIP for the “Y”
What is really sad about this whole situation is that something like this or worse hasn’t happened before with all the ex-cons from BEJE that come in, or has it? Since when should a hard working person pay $500 for a membership and the ex-con $0.I have always been under the belief that the scholarship plan was for kids,young adults, not criminals! As for the circle jerk gang, it’s not surprising, the y’s locker room and steam room have been questionable for years! Guessing policies at privately owned facilities are more strict.
@Big John…Does the Y really subsidize memberships for the criminals at Beje Clark?
If that’s true, I’m pulling my membership. I pay a ton and have to work my @ss off to afford it.
You didn’t know this? You really thought they paid full price? Really? I gave up my membership years ago. Too high priced and to much B.S. to deal with. There’s plenty of other gyms in town if that’s what your after at a MUCH lower cost.
With that said, there’s plenty of other places to grab an ice cream too.
Lots of criminals get free or reduced memberships at the Y. I see a guy there that has a reduced membership and he drives a brand new Harley….WTF? They should not get a free ride especially if they owe society !
No wonder there is so much theft in the men’s locker room
I don’t have any problems with criminals getting reduced membership fees as long as its based on the same financial standards as everyone else.
Plenty of convicted criminals have the money to pay full freight for the membership and probably do. Hey, probably half this city has a criminal record. Many don’t and get the same sliding fee scale as non-criminals.
If those convicts break the law or break the Y’s rules, give them the boot like anyone else.
Working out is healthy for anyone and might well be a plus for someone who is dealing with a drug abuse problem.
well would you rather the cons are on the streets selling crack to your family or at a place they can work out for hours and be monitored?
Anyone have any thoughts on the day camp kids being save?
I heard that the fourth guy is an ex-MCHS teacher who later taught at NIACC and was a state representative years ago. Not saying it’s true, but that’s what I heard. Anybody else hear that?
Hmmm…the plot thickens…know just who you are thinking…no suprises there…..time to e-mail this whole article to the YMCA head quarters….Google here I come.
Marquardt take the previous post down immediately. Speculation like this called libel. You can’t just add a “I might be wrong” and make it ok.
I thought the Y was a blue zone area not a blow zone.
Had to laugh at that. Good one!
hahahahahahha…That’s funny!!
Well played, sir!!!!!
I’m thinking that the “Y” could or should lose their accredidation. I can’t think the NATIONAL YMCA board thinks that this is amusing at all.
So why won’t the folks who know about the fouth perv give up a name so we can kick his ass out also and protect our kids from this kind of crap?
I’ve often felt some of the males that work at the Y are strange, so I’m not surprised this type of behavior happened or was never addressed. I’ve heard employee stories, and with this story, I think the Y has lost its family reputation.
He forced his employees to split their tips with him?!?!? That is truly disgusting.
What the flock is jumping jacks ????
I had a Y membership for a few years. The Ice Cream man alway did come across like he was “cock of the walk”. No pun intended. This will bring him down to reality. I do feel sorry for the famlys involved.
I agree. He has always acted like he was all that, and I could never figure out why. Nothing to look at for sure.
He was rude to my child a few years ago over a job. I’m glad my child never worked for him. He’s very strange. I, too, feel sorry for his wife and kids.
He’s been an asshole to me but I wrote it off as Napoleon Syndrome. He doesn’t treat his employees well and they are classified as waiters so he gets by paying them less than minimum wage. I was also told by a high schooler who worked there that he took a cut of the tips. I always tip the kids well and tell them the tip is for them and not to be shared with Dave.
I have seen him miss treat his employee a few times. Once he dumped the ice cream an employee scooped up and rescooped it up. Then he asked the employee which one looked better and that he would not eat the one the employee scooped up because it looked like crap. I would have eaten the one by the employee because it had more ice cream then the one he made. He is a jerk and treats his employee like crap. I always believe that a person’s actions will catch up with them and he is getting his own. Sorry for his family. I don’t care if people are gay or not, just keep that stuff at home and not where kids can see. That goes for straight people also.
What a jerk to do that to an employee, and in front of the customer. He’s a goon!
I hope most of his employees quit. I, for one, wouldn’t want my kid working for him.
I have also heard from some of the kids who worked there how petty and abusive he can be.
As a businessman in a small community, he never seemed to understand that word of that sort of behavior gets out.
Wait a minute… Was this mainly with the male employees? It’s all becoming clearer. Maybe he enjoyed giving out punishment? NIT: please feel free to delete this if inappropriate. I have no idea, at this point, just what you allow on here. I think we’re ALL confused.
What is more sickening is that when the truth comes out and you see that someone is over reacting you cowards won’t be adult enough to say my bad I shouldn’t have chimed in on something I know nothing more about than speculation and inuendo. And Marquardt won’t have the decency of taking this whole thing down and issue an apology for allowing this libelious BS to be out there ruining people and the fmily’s lives and reputation.
Jerry D – the reread the police report and double check the dates. You will find that the police thought over these charges before going forward. Strange behavior in the locker room at the Y is something i’ve witnessed for the past 10 years. One of these people I believe is an innocent man, and may God have mercy on him ,because YOU are right, we won’t.
Matt only reported the facts. I feel bad for all of us in Mason City and connected to the Y. It makes us ALL look dumb.
Nobody wins on this.