Trane found guilty of sex crimes at Academy

BY PCC STAFF

KEOKUK - After a two-week trial, Benjamin Trane, owner and director of Midwest Academy and Midwest Treatment Center, has been found guilty by a south Lee County jury of sex crimes at the academy.

A jury on Friday found Trane guilty of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist, a Class D felony; assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor; and child endangerment, also an aggravated misdemeanor.

He faces the possibility of a nine-year prison term. Sentencing is pending a pre-sentence investigation.

The trial was based on charges stemming from a Dec. 1, 2015 complaint of sexual abuse at the academy, located at 2416 340th Street in Keokuk. On Jan. 28, 2016 a search was conducted of the facility and additional search warrants were issued in February 2016.

Charges were filed on Aug. 29 by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation as a result of a multi-agency investigation including the Lee County Sheriff's office, the FBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, DCI, State Fire Marshall Division, Division of Intelligence, and the Iowa State Patrol.