Iowa Minister Arrested In Prostitution Sting
An Iowa minister, a married father of three, has been caught in a police-arranged sting while allegedly attempting to purchase prostitution services Friday, it emerged this week.
The Rev. Jonathan L. Offt, 41, served as the senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, since 2003, local media have reported. He was one of nine men charged Friday.
The sting was arranged by the Marion Police Department. Police officers have placed advertisements on various websites offering sexual services. Potential customers were responding via telephone, text messages and email, reported The Huffington Post. In an arranged meeting with an undercover female police officer, the potential clients were arrested upon offering money in exchange for sexual services.
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Police told a local newspaper, The Gazette, that after the arrest, Offt was "pretty sullen."
All of the arrestees were booked at the Marion Police Department on misdemeanor prostitution charges and released upon their promise to appear in court, according to The Huffington Post.
The Trinity Lutheran Church has released the following statement:
Trinity Lutheran Church and School is saddened by the most recent news story regarding Jonathan Offt. The proper authorities are handling the situation. The church and school request your prayers for all involved. We have no further comments at this time.
The minister’s name was removed from the list of pastors on the church’s website.
A native of Blairstown, Offt has previously served as a chaplain in St. Louis and Des Moines and as assistant pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City, as well as a chaplain-administrator at the Davenport Lutheran Home, The Gazette reported. He and his wife reportedly had one daughter at the time of the appointment.
In addition to Offt, who was the first to be taken into custody, police also arrested: Daniel Gingerich, 37, of Marengo; Ronald Coleman, 40, of Robins; Joseph Burke, 57, of Cedar Rapids; Michael Romanowski, 67, of Iowa City; Steven Van Nevel, 53, of Brooklyn; Gregory Stroyls, 40, of Marion; Donald Wedewer, 53, of Earlville; and Keith Myers, 50, of Cedar Rapids, reported The Huffington Post.
