The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

North Liberty man accused of sexually abusing four minors

Authorities have accused a North Liberty man of sexually abusing four minors.

Benjamin Tweedt, 32, was charged with third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of lascivious acts with a child, three counts of indecent contact with a child, and two counts of lascivious conduct with a minor.

According to the arrest affidavit, Tweedt was a mentor and youth leader at a local church. Tweedt visited one victim, referred to in the affidavit as Victim No. 4, in the victim’s bedroom sometime around Aug. 1, 2006. At the time, the affidavit said, the victim was 12 or 13 years old, and is now over the age of 18.

In Victim No. 4’s bedroom, the affidavit said, Tweedt played a “game” where he used his finger to touch the victim. This started at the victim’s upper body and continued until Tweedt began touching the victim’s genitalia, the affidavit said. The victim stated that Tweedt touched his genitals over his clothes and continued to move his finger up under his shirt, according to the affidavit.

In a separate incident during the same year, Tweedt told the same victim to go to the bathroom and measure the length of his genitalia, the affidavit said, and Tweedt did the same.

Around Aug. 1, 2009, the affidavit said Victim No. 1 reported Tweedt was again visiting the victim one-on-one as a mentor and youth leader. Tweedt played the same “game,” again starting at the upper body, the affidavit said, this time putting his hand in the waistband of the victim’s pants. The victim, now over the age of 18, was 13 at the time, the affidavit said.

Around Jan. 1, 2009, the affidavit said Victim No. 3 was cuddling with Tweedt on a couch during one of several personal visits. The victim reported, the affidavit said, he could feel Tweedt’s erection against him as the cuddled. During a different 2010 visit, the affidavit said, the victim said Tweedt massaged his butt over his clothes while Tweedt had his shirt off. The victim, now over 18, was between the ages of 11 to 13 when these visits occurred, the affidavit said.

During a different 2010 incident, the affidavit said, Tweedt requested Victim No. 3 to go to the bathroom and measure his genitalia and told the victim to then show him his genitalia.

Around June 1, 2013, the affidavit said Victim No. 2 and Tweedt were sleeping in the same twin bed during a church retreat; Tweedt “spooned” the victim and his arm around the victim. The victim, now 17, was 13 at the time, the affidavit said.

There is a warrant currently out for Tweedt’s arrest, the affidavit said.

Lascivious acts with a child and third-degree sexual abuse charges are Class-C felonies.

 

—Kayli Reese

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