The Iowa state librarian was arrested on Nov. 6 as part of an ongoing investigation for dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
According to a release from the Clive Police Department, 53-year-old Michael Scott had been communicating with a person he thought was a 14-year-old male through a messaging app called KIK. Scott sent graphic video and still images to the person he was communicating with.
The individual Scott was actually communicating with was not a 14-year-old boy, but instead a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
Clive Police Chief Mark Rehberg said that you can never really know who is on the other end of an app.
“In this case, it was an undercover deputy, but in many instances, the victims are young children, and these contacts can lead to more serious offenses,” Rehberg said. “This is a good reminder for parents to check in with their kids, see what type of apps they are using and make sure they are making appropriate decisions to stay safe in digital spaces.”
Scott, who is no longer listed as the state librarian on the state’s website, has served as the state librarian since 2014.
The charge is a serious misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine and registration on the Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.
