AMES – This former Floyd man and convicted child exploiter has relocated but remains a possible menace to North Iowa, as he is now facing fresh allegations of attempting to groom minors after he went to Ames for a rendezvous – but met cops instead.
In February, Iowa State University Police detectives began an investigation after receiving information from law enforcement agencies in Texas. The information was related to an ISU student who was communicating with minor children using social media and chat applications. The conversations were sexual in nature and included details about sex acts with minor children.
On March 3, 2025, Patrick A. Connerley, 43, of Hubbard, Iowa, was arrested and charged with the following:
• Sexual exploitation of a minor, a B Felony, Iowa Code section 728.12
• Enticing a minor under 16, a D Felony, Iowa Code section 710.10
• Grooming, a D Felony, Iowa Code section 709.8A
Investigators arrested Connerley after he arrived at an Ames location to meet with the minor.
ISU Police were assisted in this investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Rains County (TX) Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Central Iowa Drug Task Force (CIDTF).
NIT previously reported back in 2015 that Connerley, then age 33, was arrested in late February of that year after law enforcement went to his home in Floyd with a search warrant. He was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor; enticing a minor under the age of 16; and telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor. He was able to work a plea deal in which all charges were thrown out except sexual exploitation of a minor and got probation.