(KIWA Staff Photo)Hull, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — A Boyden man has been cited on two felony charges after authorities allege he exchanged sexually explicit messages with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old boy and later traveled to meet the person near Hull.
Ryan John Oostra, 55, was arrested Sunday, Oct. 4th, by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with grooming and enticing a minor under age 16 for a sexual purpose, both Class D felonies.
According to criminal complaints filed Monday in Sioux County District Court, an officer used a profile depicting a 15-year-old boy on the dating application Grindr during an undercover investigation that spanned Sept. 19th through Oct. 4th.
Authorities allege Oostra was informed of the person’s age and acknowledged it, but continued communicating. The complaints allege the conversations included messages describing illegal sexual activity Oostra wanted to engage in with the person he believed was a minor.
According to court documents, Oostra allegedly believed the person was parked along a gravel road near Hull on Oct. 4th. Investigators allege Oostra drove to that location to meet the person for the activity discussed in the messages.
The individual communicating with Oostra was actually an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a minor, according to the complaints.
At last report, Oostra was being held in the Sioux County Jail. Bond has not yet been set, according to booking records.
