BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA – A 68-year-old Northern Iowa man is in custody following an investigation into the solicitation of a minor over social media.
On Thursday, April 30, 2026, at approximately 12:55 p.m., Buchanan County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jay Michael Balcom. The arrest concluded an investigation into communications Balcom allegedly maintained over several weeks with an individual he believed to be an underage male.
According to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Balcom utilized various social media platforms to request lewd images. Investigators allege he eventually arranged a meeting at an undisclosed rural location in Buchanan County for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Balcom (pictured at top) traveled to the location to meet the person he believed was a minor, where he was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with:
Grooming (Class D Felony)
Enticing a Minor (Class D Felony)
Under Iowa law, a conviction for either charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,245. Furthermore, a conviction for these offenses may require registration as a sex offender.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this case by the Independence Police Department.