North Liberty man accused of fondling young boys

NORTH LIBERTY - A North Liberty man is accused of sexually abusing several young boys when he served as a mentor and youth leader for a local church.

According to North Liberty police criminal complaints, Benjamin C. Tweedt, 32, had four victims. Police first learned about the allegations in February.

Police said the abuse goes back as far as August 2006. The criminal complaints state that Tweedt served as a mentor and youth leader for a local church. In a news release, the North Liberty Police Department said Tweedt served with Parkview Church in Iowa City, which removed Tweedt from any contact with student ministry when police informed them of the allegations.

Sometime between August and December 2006 during a visit with a boy identified as 'Victim #4,” Tweedt allegedly touched the boy with his finger from his upper body down to the boy's genitals, police said. The boy who was 12 or 13 at the time, told police Tweedt touched him over his clothes before putting his hand under the victim's shirt.

A similar incident is alleged to have occurred between August 2009 and February 2010 with a boy identified as 'Victim #1.” Police said Tweedt touched the boy with his finger around the waistband of the boy's pants. The boy was 13 years old at the time, police said.

A boy identified as 'Victim #3” told police that sometime between January and June 2010, Tweedt touched his buttocks over this clothes with his hands. The boy was 12 years old at the time, police said. During another one-on-one visit that occurred sometime between January 2009 and January 2012, Tweedt pushed his genitals against the victim's buttocks, police said.

The fourth alleged victim, identified as 'Victim #2,” told police that sometime between June and August 2013, Tweedt 'spooned” the boy in a bed during a church retreat.

Parkview said in a statement that Tweedt was a volunteer in the church's junior high ministries before 2012. The church said they learned of the allegations in early February and contacted police.

'We also notified the church community about the situation,” the statement reads. 'Parkview has cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so ... Our desire is to see truth exposed, justice executed and compassion expressed to those who have been impacted. We care deeply for students and families in our community.”

Tweedt has been arrested and faces one count of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony; two counts of lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony; three counts of indecent contact with a child, an aggravated misdemeanor; and two counts of lascivious conduct with a minor, a simple misdemeanor.

Complete statement from Parkview Church:

This is a sad and difficult time for the Parkview Church family. In early February we were made aware of incidents that occurred involving a volunteer in the junior high ministries prior to 2012 and immediately contacted state and local authorities. We also notified the church community about the situation. Parkview has cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so, and we ask that any questions be directed toward these authorities. Our desire is to see truth exposed, justice executed, and compassion expressed to those who have been impacted. We care deeply for students and families in our community. We ask that you respect the privacy of all who are involved at this time. Thank you.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com