Solon man charged with sending threatening letters to Regina High

A Solon man suspected of writing letters accusing Regina High School football coaches of providing performance-enhancing drugs to players has been arrested and charged with harassment.

According to the Iowa City Police Department and criminal complaints, Regina staff contacted officers last August after receiving threatening letters. The letters allegedly were penned by a group calling itself Regina Parents for Responsible Athletics. The letters claimed football coaches had been giving players steroids since 2010.

The school's staff was accused of failing to take action on the allegations.

Police said the letters listed several demands and said that if the demands were not met, the letters would be leaked to the media and the Iowa High School Athletic Association. When the demands were not met, the letters were released to multiple media outlets. It is not clear what the demands were.

Police said there is no evidence student-athletes were provided with performance-enhancing drugs. At the time of the incident, Regina president and CEO Lee Iben expressed confidence the incident was a hoax.

Eventually, DNA evidence led police to 44-year-old Daniel L. Stone. Police said Stone refused to cooperate with the investigation. He has been charged with third-degree harassment, a simple misdemeanor. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office also has charged Stone with interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor.

Stone was booked at the Johnson County Jail on Wednesday evening and released shortly thereafter.

Iben said the school would not be commenting on the arrest.

'At this time, I cannot comment on the case as we do not want to jeopardize the investigation and prosecution of the party or parties responsible for the crime,” Iben said.

l Gazette reporter Meryn Fluker contributed to this report. Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@sourcemedia.net