POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA – A man who formerly worked at a school in Montezuma, Iowa as a teacher has been arrested for committing sex acts with school children.
Derek John Bates, 28 years old, was arrested today by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree and one count of Pattern, Practice or Scheme to Engage in Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Attorney General’s office. Court records show the students were 12 and 13 years old at the time.
On June 14, 2014, the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Derek Bates had committed a sex act(s) with two separate minors. Investigation into the matter, including interviews of both minors present at the time of the incident revealed that on or about March 2012 through July 2012, Derek Bates had sexual contact with both minors. At the time of the incident, Derek Bates was an employee of the Montezuma Community School District and both minors were enrolled as students within the school district. The alleged assault(s) did not take place within the school or on school grounds.
Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree is a class C Felony and carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years. Pattern, Practice or Scheme to Engage in Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee carries a five year prison sentence.
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