Former North Liberty mayor accused of soliciting teen for sex

A former North Liberty mayor and City Council member was accused this week of soliciting a 15-year-old for sex three months ago in a North Liberty grocery store.

Gerald L. Kuhl, 81, a former North Liberty mayor in 2014 who served as a council member for several years, was charged during his initial appearance Wednesday with enticing a minor under 16, a felony. The charge carries up to a five-year prison term.

Sixth Judicial Associate District Judge Jason Burns released Kuhl without bail and ordered a no-contact order to protect the minor, whose gender was not disclosed in court documents.

According to a criminal complaint, a 15-year-old told police that Kuhl, at the Fareway Meat and Grocery store at 615 Westwood Dr. in North Liberty at about 5:07 p.m. April 13, asked to have sex with him. Kuhl offered to take minor to dinner and then to his house, the complaint stated.

The teen said Kuhl also asked if the minor knew other teens who would be interested in having sex with him, according to the complaint.

“Victim felt uncomfortable, scared and violated,” the complaint stated.

Kuhl denied this conversation to police.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith, in response as to why it took over three months to charge Kuhl, said follow up and review of the investigation took some time.

Kuhl was appointed mayor in May 2014 after Mayor Tom Salm died of a heart attack. Kuhl, who was a council member for two four-year terms, was replaced by challenger Amy Nielsen, who was elected in November 2014 before becoming a state representative in 2017.

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