CMB coach, Collins-Maxwell teacher arrested on federal child enticement charges

DES MOINES — A Collins-Maxwell/Baxter coach and Collins-Maxwell Middle School social studies teacher was arrested Thursday on federal charges of coercion or enticement of a child.

According to a criminal compliant filed in U.S. District Court in Des Moines, 24-year-old Luke Stephen Crouse was arrested by authorities after multiple sexually suggestive conversations in an online chat room with someone who Crouse believed to be a 14-year-old female.

Crouse was actually communicating with an undercover Department of Homeland Security agent. Court documents state in chats that took place Feb. 28 and March 1, Crouse sent three nude photographs of himself through the chat and another wearing a Collins-Maxwell under armor top. The agent said Crouse appeared to be in a vehicle in at least one of the photographs.

The complaints states some of the chats occurred at 3 p.m., "approximately right after Collins-Maxwell Middle School let out for the day."

Crouse has been the head boys golf coach for the joint-Collins-Maxwell/Baxter sports program for one year and is CMB's assistant girls basketball coach.

Baxter Superintendent Todd Martin said Friday his district is consulting with the attorney to receive guidance on how to address the arrest. He also indicated Baxter officials are in contact with their Collins-Maxwell counterparts and are fully cooperating with the investigation.

"We want to be very careful and make sure no students were harmed from either (school) district," Martin said. "The only connection Baxter students had with the teacher was through a shared coaching capacity."

According to Martin, no complaints have been logged by Baxter CSD students against Crouse.

Crouse had his initial appearance in federal court Thursday and is scheduled for a preliminary and detention hearing at 11:30 a.m. March 7.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountytribune.com