JDC officer arrested for misconduct

MONTROSE – On October 29, 2025, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was requested to respond to the South Iowa Area Detention Service Agency, or juvenile detention center, located at 2528 255th Street in Montrose, regarding an investigation involving a JDC employee.
For clarification, the juvenile detention center is not overseen by the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. Coordination comes from the Iowa Department of Human Services with oversight from a five-person board of directors, including Lee County Supervisor Denise Fraise.
According to a Dec. 29 release from Lee County Sheriff Elliott Vandenberg posted to the department’s Facebook page, the director of the center reported concerns involving inappropriate conduct between a center officer and a 16-year-old detainee. These concerns included excessive and unnecessary contact with the juvenile, actions taken to obstruct camera views within the facility, and violations of previously issued employment restrictions.
The matter was then referred to the Lee County Sheriff’s office for further investigation. During the investigation, numerous employee reports were reviewed, as well as surveillance videos, and multiple interviews were conducted. Information gathered indicated that the employee engaged in inappropriate behavior toward the juvenile detainee and violated established policies designed to protect juveniles in custody.

Investigators also learned the employee made unauthorized contact with the juvenile’s parent and misrepresented his authority regarding bonding the juvenile out of custody. Search warrants were executed for both the employee’s residence and personal electronic devices. Evidence collected during the investigation supported the reported allegations.
As a result of the investigation, Mark Young, 48, of Keokuk, was arrested and charged with sexual misconduct with a juvenile.
The employee is no longer in a position of authority over juveniles. Due to the nature of the case and the involvement of a juvenile, certain details are being withheld to protect the privacy of the victim.
Fraise said the board of directors was made aware of the incident and is letting local law enforcement handle the situation.
A charge is merely an accusation and the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.