Two men arrested in Wapello on unrelated sex charges

Larry Ward

Police in Wapello have charged one man with felony sexual abuse of a child and another man with violating sex offender registry parole violations after he was spotted around city parks and playgrounds.

On July 7, police received information from the Iowa Department of Human Services about the sexual abuse of a child. After investigation, Larry Ward, 64, of Wapello, was charged with one count of Class B felony sexual abuse in the second degree, the city police department said in a news release.

If convicted, Ward faces up to 25 years in prison. He was being held this weekend at the Louisa County jail on a $25,000 cash only bond. Other related crimes are under investigation, police said.

In the second case, Wapello police began investigating reports of a sex offender at city parks and playground, as well as “other complaints of this individual around children,” on June 27, the release said.

Dalen Prier

On June 30, Dalen Prier, 27, of Ottumwa, was arrested and charged with parole violations. He was held this weekend at the Louisa County jail on a $100,000 bond.

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