Newton police said 57-year-old Curtis Sean Gauley communicated with who he thought was a 15 year-old, and arranged a time to meet and commit sex acts on them.
NEWTON, Iowa — A Montezuma man is behind bars after allegedly soliciting who he thought was a child to commit sexual acts.
Newton police said the investigation began July 23 when 57-year-old Curtis Sean Gauley was identified as a suspect in an online child predator case.
While communicating with a Newton officer who was posing as a 15-year-old on the social media platform Kik, Gauley reportedly attempted to solicit sex acts.
Court records indicate Gauley initially described his sexual history, but when the “child” said they were 15, he said “no no. Can’t go there. Sorry” and quit messaging.
However, files show that just a few days later, he was messaging again, asking how the child was doing and if they remembered him.
When told the child was 15 again, officials said he messaged, “Tell me you don’t think of being with me that you don’t want me to touch you.”
Records show that Gauley set a time he said he’d pick the child up and go for a drive in which he would commit sex acts on them.
While he didn’t show up for the meeting and had ceased communications once again, Newton police were able to get information from Kik that led them to Gauley’s residence.
On Wednesday, Newton PD, Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office executed a search and seizure warrant on Gauley’s home and he was taken into custody without issue. A criminal complaint shows he admitted to communicating with the child alias.
He was booked into Jasper County Jail and faces two Class D felonies, grooming and enticement of a minor under 16 for a sexual purpose.
Gauley has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 24.
