IOWA
Press-Citizen
Stephen Gruber-Miller, sgrubermil@press-citizen.com June 16, 2017
A former church youth leader is pleading not guilty to multiple accusations of child sexual abuse and related charges.
Benjamin C. Tweedt, 32, of North Liberty on Thursday entered a written plea of not guilty to all charges against him, online court records show.
Police say Tweedt, a former youth leader and mentor at Parkview Church in Iowa City, fondled or had inappropriate sexual interactions with at least four children between the ages of 11 and 13 from 2006 to 2013. He was arrested in April, but was released after posting bond.
The church, which reported the allegations to police in February, says Tweedt was a volunteer but was never an employee.
Police said most of the abuse occurred during one-on-one visits with children in Tweedt’s capacity as a volunteer with the church. North Liberty Police Chief Diane Venenga said the abuse happened in homes and church retreat locations in North Liberty and Coralville.
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