A former teacher’s aide from the Centerville Community School District has been sentenced to two years in prison following inappropriate communications with student athletes. Jakob Kreg Bauer, 23, of Centerville, faced serious charges related to his conduct while employed as a special education aide at Lakeview Elementary School and as an assistant boys basketball coach.
Judge Rose Anne Mefford delivered the sentence on Wednesday, with Bauer initially charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, leading to the dismissal of the original charge as part of a plea agreement.
The case was prosecuted by Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland, who acted as a special prosecutor due to a conflict of interest with Appanoose County Attorney Ty Stewart, who had previously represented Bauer.
In addition to his prison sentence, Bauer is required to complete a sex offender treatment program, register as a sex offender for life upon his release, and serve ten years of probation. He has also been fined $855, along with a 15% surcharge and a $250 civil penalty related to his sex offender status.
Bauer was terminated by the school board in May 2024, following public records indicating that he engaged in inappropriate communication via cell phone and social media with student athletes during April of that year. The victim in this case was a student at Centerville High School.
This incident serves as a reminder of the critical need for vigilance in safeguarding students within educational settings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strict boundaries and appropriate conduct among school staff.
