A Cherokee man and longtime local banker is facing felony charges after investigators say he attempted to meet what he believed was a 15‑year‑old for sex during an undercover sting in Sutherland.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Sutherland Police Department, 74‑year‑old Leon Klotz of Cherokee allegedly engaged in explicit online conversations with an undercover officer posing as a 15‑year‑old boy. Police say Klotz believed he was communicating with a minor and solicited the teen to meet for sex.
Klotz—who previously spent many years working at Cherokee State Bank, has held county roles, and more recently worked as a flower delivery driver—was arrested Thursday when he arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location in Sutherland.
He is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, a class B felony, and grooming, a class D felony. A class B felony in Iowa carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison, while a class D felony is punishable by up to five years.
Klotz was booked into the O’Brien County Jail in Primghar on Thursday. Court records show he posted a $5,000 bond and was released the same day.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 23rd, in O’Brien County District Court.
