County attorney urges families to monitor their children’s online activities

When local law enforcement and prosecutors from the county attorney’s office met in late March for a training course to catch child predators, they didn’t expect to use their newfound skills so quickly. By the second day of training, officers found a man trying to solicit sex from what he believed to be a minor.

Ever since then it seems like these types of crimes continue trending upwards. Jasper County Attorney Scott Nicholson said every individual charged has been using the internet to target children. He is urging families to take notice and monitor their kids’ use of online platforms, particularly social media.

“Adults have figured out they can get into these games and have contact with these children inside the games that leads to outside meetings,” Nicholson said before speaking to parents and predators directly. “Parents, you need to be hyper aware of your children’s online access. Predators, we’re going to catch you.”

Assistant County Attorney Nicholas Pietrack said adults are attempting to groom and/or sexually exploit children through social media and even online games like Roblox, which is currently embroiled in lawsuits from families saying sex offenders and sexual predators used its platform to communicate with their kids.

“Kids have cellphones nowadays at younger and younger ages,” Pietrack said in an interview with Newton News. “So they have more access to being plugged into the whole world, and there are dangers out there that we are just now fully understanding. And it’s always changing.”

Nicholson said the county attorney’s office and local law enforcement are both very confident in their technical capabilities to investigate these types of crimes. From what he has gathered, many parents are not aware of these types of dangers. But he said it is very important to be mindful of online activity.

Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess agrees. He told Newton News that keeping children safe is one of the police department’s top priorities. Officers are committed to tracking down and stopping those who try to target children online, he said, but police cannot do it alone. Parents play a huge role, too.

“Know who your kids are talking to, set limits on screen time and, most importantly, keep those conversations open about what they’re doing online,” Burdess said. “The more involved you are, the safer your kids will be. Together, we can stop predators before they have a chance to hurt anyone.”

Offenders of these types of sex crimes are getting heavy sentences in some cases. In March, Francis Heim, 58, of Newton, was sentenced to 30 years. He pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor, sex offender registration violation and telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor.

At the sentencing hearing, the judge believed probation would not adequately protect the public. The court factored in Heim’s previous offenses, which were also of a predatory nature and included a past conviction in which he exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and had indecent contact with a child.

Depending on the types of charges, the number of charges and many other factors, Nicholson said offenders found guilty of these types of crimes can be sent to prison for two to 25 years. The Iowa Legislature, he added, continues to make penalties stronger and creating more laws for prosecutors to use.

“It’s clear from top to bottom that this is a problem that everybody wants to stop,” Nicholson said.

Pietrack noted many of the communications with the alleged online predators waste no time in accelerating the conversations to a sexual and inappropriate nature. Even when individuals are made aware they are talking to a child, the messages continue.

“It can happen so quickly,” Pietrack said.

ADVICE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Pietrack recommends parents limit online time. The less time children spend in risky online spaces, the fewer opportunities predators have to contact them. Parents should also set clear limits on device use and keep devices in common areas when possible. He also said parents should model safe behavior.

Building self-esteem may also help. Pietrack said a confident child is far less likely to fall for online manipulation or peer pressure; encourage their talents, celebrate their achievements and remind them daily of their worth. He also recommended parents talk with their kids about online safety.

Iowa has strengthened its laws to protect children from online exploitation, but Pietrack said adults should never attempt to initiate or maintain inappropriate online contact with minors. In 2024, Iowa added “grooming” to its sexual abuse law. It is a Class D felony and can lead to a five-year prison sentence.

“This law and others exist to protect children and give law enforcement the tools they need to respond swiftly,” Pietrack said. “Adults who violate these laws will face serious criminal consequences. The Jasper County Attorney’s Office does not tolerate crimes against children.”

ALLEGED SEX CRIME CASES INVOLVING ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS

March 28, 2025:Bryce Nell, 39, was arrested and charged with grooming, enticing a minor under age 16 for a sexual purpose and telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor. Nell used Facebook and TextNow to contact what he believed to be a 14-year-old female but was actually an undercover police officer. Despite being told he was talking to a minor, Nell continued to talk about and send photos of his penis. He described committing sex acts with the minor and said he wanted to meet.

July 30, 2025: Matthew Powell, 44, was arrested and charged with grooming, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticing a minor under age 16 for a sexual purpose and several counts of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor. Powell engaged in sexually explicit conduct through email with what he believed to be a 14- or 15-year-old male but was actually an undercover police officer. Powell repeatedly requested the minor to share photos of his genitals and suggested they participate in sex acts. He also wanted to meet in person.

Aug. 13, 2025:Ryan Hammen, 21, was arrested and charged with grooming and REr. Hammen used Snapchat to contact what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl but was actually an undercover police officer. He said he lived in Newton and he wanted to have sex with the child. He then wanted to meet in person at a park and said he would be arriving in a blue mini-van. He admitted to police to sending the messages.

Oct. 15, 2025: Eric Roberts, 41, was arrested and charged with grooming, sexual exploitation of a minor and enticing a minor under age 16 for a sexual purpose. Roberts used Facebook to contact what he believed to be a 14-year-old child but was actually an undercover police officer. Roberts requested they send “sexy pictures” and asked to see their genitals. He then described the several sex acts he wanted to commit with the child. Eventually, he asked to meet in person.

Nov. 3, 2025: Christopher Finke, 44, was arrested and charged with grooming, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticing a minor under age 16 for a sexual purpose and 18 counts of dissemination of obscene material to a minor. Finke used email and phone messaging applications to make contact with what he believed to be a 14- or 15-year-old male. Finke attempted to solicit nude photos and suggested the child engage in sex acts live and on camera. He also asked to meet in person to engage in these illegal sexual acts.