Life sentence for man in kidnapping, sex abuse case

An Ankeny man was sentenced to life in prison in Jasper County District Court Monday for charges stemming from a kidnapping and sex abuse incident in Colfax.

Following a jury trial last month, Jeff L. Altmayer, 58, was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of enticing a minor. The jury deliberated for only 45 minutes before reaching their verdict.

Altmayer was arrested by Iowa State Patrol Jan. 4, 2017 on a warrant from Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Major Crimes Unit. According to court records, the female victim, who was under the age of 13 at the time of the incident, was walking with another unidentified minor on North Broadway Street toward Kelly Street in Colfax during evening hours in August 2016. Altmayer introduced himself as “Jimmy” and offered the children $100 if one of them would help him with yard work at his house in Des Moines.

One of the children entered the car and sat in the front passenger seat, and Altmayer started driving. That’s when he reportedly fondled the victim, forcing her to touch him sexually.

The report states the victim repeatedly asked to be let out of the vehicle before Altmayer pulled over in front of the Colfax Public Library, and the victim was able to get out.

Altmayer also allegedly offered $100 to lure a 6-year-old girl into his vehicle, falsely claiming to be a police officer in Onawa in November 2016.

In that case, the Ankeny man is charged with intent to commit sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, impersonating a public official and unlawful possession of a prescription drug, according to online court records.

Altmayer was on pre-trial release from the Monona County Jail on a $50,000 bond at the time of the Colfax incident.

Altmayer is still facing four counts of enticing a minor for a similar alleged incident in Grundy County. The 58-year-old has pleaded not guilty in that case. A jury trial in that case is currently scheduled for March 14.