Iowa father and son accused of heinous abuse of teen

DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA – A long investigation involving the FBI uncovered the alleged sexual abuse of a female teen victim at the hands of a father and son, police say.

In 2024, while assisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation with an investigation, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office uncovered evidence of sexual abuse that had taken place at a residence in rural Dallas County, Iowa.

Following an extensive months-long investigation, which included many interviews, executing multiple search warrants, and analyzing substantial digital evidence, arrest warrants were issued for Cheyenne Bretsch, 27, of De Soto, and Ross Bretsch, 56, of Ankeny.

The investigation determined that both individuals sexually abused the same female victim during the summers of 2019 and 2020.

As a result, the following charges have been filed:

Cheyenne Bretsch – Four counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class C Felony)

Ross Bretsch – Seven counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class C Felony)

Cheyenne Bretsch was arrested on March 11, 2025, and is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail. Ross Bretsch (aka Spenser Bretsch) was arrested on March 13, 2025, and is also being held at the Dallas County Jail.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the Des Moines Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Story County Sheriff’s Office, and the De Soto Police Department.