Sex offender charged with trying to lure girls from park

LEHIGH — A convicted sex offender has been arrested and charged with trying to lure two girls into his van at the park in Lehigh.

Alan R. Ekstrom, 81, of Lehigh, was arrested by Webster County sheriff’s deputies and charged with two counts of grooming and one count of sex offender area/activity violation, according to court records.

Criminal complaints filed against him state that at 4:45 p.m. April 23 Ekstrom drove his Chrysler Town and Country van into the park and to the basketball courts where two girls were. Then he offered the girls a stuffed animal in an attempt to get them into the van, deputies wrote in the criminal complaints.

By being in the park, he violated the requirements of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, according to the criminal complaints. Ekstrom was placed on the registry following a 2006 conviction for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

Ekstrom was arrested Monday at his home.

He made his initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court Tuesday morning. Magistrate William H. Habhab scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 9. He also issued an order prohibiting Ekstrom from having any contact with the two girls. Any attempt to contact the girls could result in more criminal charges for Ekstrom.

Habhab set Ekstrom’s bond at $12,500 cash only.

Police Logs

FORT DODGE

Monday

A theft was reported in the 100 block of South 12th Street.

An escape was reported in the 300 block of First Avenue South.

A missing person was reported in the 300 block of Avenue M West.

A person with a weapon was reported in the 300 block of South Eighth Street.

A disabled vehicle was reported in the 2000 block of Fifth Avenue South.

An assault was reported in the 800 block of Kenyon Road.

A violation of a no contact order was reported in the 10 block of North 10th Street.

A parking complaint was reported in the 400 block of Avenue F.

Juvenile problems were reported in the 1400 block of South 24th Street.

Harassment was reported in the 200 block of North 29th Street.

Criminal mischief was reported in the 1200 block of Eighth Avenue North.

A fallen traffic signal was reported at 15th Street and Seventh Avenue North.

A vehicle accident was reported at Seventh Avenue North and 14th Street.

A traffic hazard was reported in the 800 block of South 15th Street.

A civil dispute was reported in the 1700 block of Third Avenue South.

Fallen bricks were reported at Central Avenue and Eighth Street.

Juvenile problems were reported in the 1000 block of South 27th Street.

A fight was reported in the 1700 block of 14th Avenue Southwest.

A fight was reported in the 1600 block of Second Avenue North.

A security check was conducted in the 10 block of South First Street.

Juvenile problems were reported at 30th Court and 20th Avenue North.

A disabled vehicle was reported in the 1400 block of First Avenue South.

Magistrate Court

WEBSTER COUNTY

Tuesday

Failure to appear for plea/sentencing — Heather K. Peterson, 47, 1637 Third Ave. N., further proceedings to be scheduled.

Grooming — Alan R. Ekstrom, 82, Lehigh, two counts, preliminary hearing set for May 9, no contact order issued.

Sex offender area/activity violation — Alan R. Ekstrom, 82, Lehigh, preliminary hearing set for May 9.

Driving while license suspended — Jamari T. Elliott, 27, Des Moines, $250 plus surcharge, court costs. Jose Antonio Martinez Torres, 39, 304 Second St. N.W., trial set for May 29. Roberto Gonzalez Alba, 18, 1822 Second Ave. S., $250 plus surcharge, court costs.

Operating while under the influence, second offense — Sara E. Hoover, 41, 1338 Third Ave. N.W., preliminary hearing waived.

Operating while under the influence, first offense — Avian M. Hewitt, 18, Des Moines, preliminary hearing waived.

Interference with official acts — Matthew A. Andrews, 43, Webster City, trial set for May 22.

Assault causing serious injury — Wilmaris K. Burt, Fort Madison, preliminary hearing waived, no contact order issued.

Assault on persons in certain occupations — Wilmaris K. Burt, Fort Madison, preliminary hearing waived.