Former Center Point teacher pleads to enticement of 13-year-old student

CEDAR RAPIDS — A former Center Point-Urbana Middle School teacher pleaded to a lesser charge last week for inappropriately touching a 13-year-old student and sending her text messages of a sexual nature.

Adam Hildebrandt, 41, of Urbana, originally charged with felony exploitation by a school employee, filed a written guilty plea last Friday to an amended charge of enticing a minor under age 16, an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to a criminal complaint, Hildebrandt was the homeroom, science and language arts teacher of the 13-year-old girl at the middle school during the 2020-2021 school year. The girl reported that she had confided in him about some personal issues and after December 2020, she noticed her relationship with the teacher began to change.

Hildebrandt started touching her hair and back and would give her hugs, the girl told investigators, and the relationship became “weird” when he followed her on social media and began messaging her, the complaint stated. From June 1 through June 7, 2021, Hildebrandt sent multiple messages to her talking about “her body, eyes and smiles, expressing feelings of intimacy toward her ” and saying he was “in love with her,” according to the complaint.

In his messages, Hildebrandt did indicate he knew those comments could be considered inappropriate, the complaint stated.

Hildebrandt resigned as a teacher and coach Dec. 13, 2021, according to school officials. The district conducted an internal investigation and approved Hildebrandt's request for "Good Cause Leave" in January 2021 to take affect at the end of the 2021 school year.

His teaching license expired Oct. 31, 2022, according to Iowa Board of Education Examiners records.

Hildebrandt faces up to two years in prison and will be required to comply with the sex offender registry requirements for 10 years.

His sentencing is set for June 27 in Linn County District Court.

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