East Mills teacher, coach facing sexual abuse charges

An East Mills coach and teacher was arrested and charged with sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee for two incidents involving a juvenile female.

Christopher L. Irvin, 39, of Pacific Junction, was charged Aug. 21 with Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C felony, and two counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee. Iowa code defines the sexual exploitation charge, which is an aggravated misdemeanor, as a school employee “engaging in sexual conduct with a juvenile student for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the school employee or victim.”

Irvin made his initial appearance before Montgomery County Magistrate Brian Mensen Wednesday afternoon. Irvin made his appearance by phone in Montgomery County due to scheduling issues in Mills County. His bail was set at $14,000.

Irvin is an elementary art teacher, head cross country coach and assistant track coach at East Mills. He has been employed in the district for seven years.

According to court filings, the charges stem from an Aug. 17 interview with a juvenile female and investigators from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. In that forensic interview, the juvenile disclosed that in late July or early August, Irvin allegedly touched her groin and buttocks area while in a sauna room at the Fit-4-Life gym in Glenwood.

The juvenile further told investigators that in April of this year, Irvin also rubbed his genitals on her feet. The alleged incident occurred when the juvenile said she was spending the night at Irvin’s house. While the juvenile pretended to be asleep, Irvin allegedly took his penis out of his pants and rubbed it on her bare feet.

East Mills Superintendent Paul Croghan said Irvin has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Irvin was arrested by Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies without incident Aug. 21 and transported to the Mills County Jail. He was released the following day after posting a 10 percent surety bond. Irvin’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

An order of protection was filed against Irvin on Aug. 22,  barring him from contact with the juvenile female in the case. He is also not allowed to enter any school and was ordered to surrender his firearms to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office as a condition of his release.

The DCI is continuing to investigate.

Mills County Attorney Naeda Elliott encouraged anyone with information to contact her office or the DCI.

“We charged him with the strictest crimes we could for his conduct,” she said. “However, we don’t know if there are more victims out there that we can possibly charge him with other crimes.”