German student voted illegally in Iowa, officials say

Federal officials in Iowa have charged a 19-year-old from Germany with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship so he could vote.

The U.S. attorney's office says Christopher Mettin entered the country in August to study at Morningside College in Sioux City. In September, he claimed he was a U.S. citizen to register to vote. Prosecutors also say he falsely represented himself to agents of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mettin was indicted on Oct. 21 for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote and for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. His trial is set for Jan. 3.

Mettin is being held for the U.S. Marshal's Service in the Dakota County jail in Dakota City, Neb.

Jail officials say he remained in the jail on Friday. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney.