Newton man charged with sexual exploitation of minor

A Newton man was arrested Tuesday for sexual exploitation of a minor, following a three-month investigation.

According to a press release, the Newton Police Department was contacted in September by the Bloomdale Police Department in Ohio in regards to an ongoing investigation into sexually illicit online communication between a 14-year-old boy and a man identified as 27-year-old David J. Dehart, of Newton. Over the course of the investigation, police found Dehart had communicated over social media applications with minor boys and exchanged illicit nude images with them. They also discovered Dehart had received videos of minor boys performing sex acts.

At 8:53 p.m. Tuesday, Newton police arrested Dehart for three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor — soliciting production, five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor — possession, two counts of dissemination of obscene material to a minor and one count of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor.

He was transported to the Jasper County Jail. He was released on $44,000 bond. His preliminary hearing has been set for 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14.

Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com