DES MOINES – An Iowa man was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to committing sex acts with three children.
Michael Charles Ertz, 71, of Altoona, Iowa, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of lascivious acts with a child for actions against three separate minors that occurred from 2013 to 2019 in Polk County. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
At the same hearing, the defendant also pleaded to two separate counts of lascivious acts with a child for actions that occurred in Dallas County in 2014 and 2015.
In December 2024, Altoona police received a report of sexual abuse against Ertz when one of the victims came forward. When police served a search warrant, they discovered child pornography.
District Judge Paul Scott sentenced the defendant at the hearing Friday in Polk County to a total of 50 years for the seven charges. As part of the sentence, Mr. Ertz must be supervised and monitored for the rest of his life by the Department of Corrections. He also must register as a sex offender.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant Dallas County Attorney Andrea Lovig and Assistant Polk County Attorney Meggan Guns, with assistance from Kayla McKee. The investigation was led by Detective David Lowe of the Altoona Police Department, with assistance from the West Des Moines Police Department and other agencies.