An undercover operation by a local sheriff’s department targeted predatory behavior on social media, posing as a young female.
On March 12, 2026, at approximately 3:30 PM, the Mahaska County Sheriff Department conducted an online undercover investigation operation, posing as a 13-year-old female on Facebook.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, 2026, Jeremy McClurg, 44, of Ottumwa, added the undercover decoy as a friend on Facebook. The Mahaska County Sheriff noted that on March 3, McClurg began chatting with the undercover decoy. The conversation turned sexual early on.
Officials reported that when asked about his age, McClurg was informed that the undercover decoy was 13 years old. Despite this information, McClurg stated that the age was acceptable. Court documents indicate that McClurg was given the opportunity to cease the conversation, but he continued, and the discussion remained sexual in nature. McClurg described performing sexual acts on the undercover decoy and suggested that the decoy drive from Oskaloosa to Ottumwa, where he resides. The undercover decoy explained that she was too young to drive but suggested that a friend could bring her to Ottumwa, to which McClurg agreed.
On March 12, the meeting was planned. The undercover decoy informed McClurg that her ride would drop her off at the South Oak Towers Apartments in Ottumwa, just a few blocks from McClurg’s residence. That afternoon, McClurg was advised by the undercover decoy that she was at the agreed location. He was intercepted by law enforcement while en route to the meeting.
Upon his arrest, McClurg admitted to having a “pipe” on his person and also possessed an empty cylindrical glass tube commonly used for the consumption of methamphetamine. He was arrested and transported to the Mahaska County Jail, where he is being held on a $10,000 cash bond only. A preliminary hearing is set for March 23, 2026.
McClurg is charged with the following:
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)
- Enticing a minor under 16 for sexual purposes (Class D felony)
- Grooming (Class D felony)
Case Note: McClurg is currently detained in the Mahaska County Jail as the investigation was conducted by the Mahaska County Sheriff Department.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
