Records: Iowa Athletics assistant IT director enticed teen

A Cedar Rapids man is accused in Johnson County District Court of contacting a girl he believed was under 16 and sending her pornographic photos and videos, along with “hundreds” of messages, saying he wanted to have sex with her.

Mark Sevcik, 64, an Iowa Athletics assistant information technology director and help desk supervisor, was charged last week with enticing a minor under 16, a felony; and three charges of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor, all aggravated misdemeanors.

According to a criminal complaint, from August 2023 through last month, he communicated with the underage girl on various online social media platforms. During these conversations, he sent her dozens of “obscene” and graphic photos and videos.

Sevcik also told the minor he wanted to perform sex acts with her, the complaint stated. He also sent her “hundreds of messages” and a graphic photo of himself. He bought underwear for the girl and “encouraged” her to delete communications between them.

Police obtained a search warrant for Sevcik’s vehicle and said they found the underwear, along with condoms.

The University of Iowa, in a statement, confirmed Sevcik is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Jason Besler initially ordered a $20,000 bail when Sevcik was arrested Jan. 30. But Associate District Judge Brandon Schrock later released him after Sevcik’s initial appearance last week to the state Department of Correctional Services for pretrial supervision pending a trial.

Sevcik was previously charged in a separate case Jan. 3 with interference with officials acts, a simple misdemeanor. He was being detained by officers and asked to turn over his phone because they had a search warrant, according to a complaint. Sevcik pulled away from officers and tried to conceal his phone, the records shows.

Sevcik then attempted to turn off his cellphone and had to be physically restrained by the officers so they could retrieve his phone, the complaint stated. According to the complaint, he was detained by officers at a fast-food restaurant on Mormon Trek Boulevard.

There’s no information in the records to clarify if the two cases are related.

A non-jury trial date for the simple misdemeanor is set for Feb. 16.

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