A LE MARS, IOWA MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH 16 TOTAL COUNTS OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO FEMALE VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF 14.
54-YEAR-OLD RICK REIFENRATH IS CHARGED WITH CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD, SEXUAL ABUSE 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE, LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD, INDECENT CONTACT WITH A CHILD AND OTHER COUNTS.
THE ALLEGED ACTS OCCURRED FROM NOVEMBER OF 2021 THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
AN ARRAIGNMENT IS SET FOR JUNE 15TH AT THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
HE WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL ON $80,000 BOND AFTER BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON THESE NEW CHARGES.
THIS IS THE LATEST IN AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION INVOLVING REIFENRATH.
LAST SEPTEMBER 18TH, DEPUTIES EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT IN RURAL PLYMOUTH COUNTY AFTER A REPORT THAT A PROPERTY HAD UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR 3 CHILDREN AND NUMEROUS DOGS.
THE 3 CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THE RESIDENCE DUE TO THE UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS AND PLACED IN THE CARE OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
A FOLLOW UP SEARCH WARRANT RESULTED IN 111 DOGS BEING REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY DUE TO ANIMAL NEGLECT.
REIFENRATH WAS ARRESTED ON OUTSTANDING WARRANTS DURING A JANUARY TRAFFIC STOP FOR 3 COUNTS OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT NO INJURY, 1 COUNT OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT WITH INJURY, 1 COUNT OF ANIMAL NEGLECT WITH INJURY AND 19 COUNTS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT WITHOUT INJURY.
THEN IN APRIL, REIFENRATH WAS ARRESTED ON THREE FELONY WARRANTS ISSUED BY THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD AND SEXUAL ABUSE 3RD DEGREE.
HE HAD BEEN FREE ON $25,000 BOND AFTER THAT ARREST.
