West Union Crimes Against Children

The West Union Police Department is actively investigating several serious cases involving crimes against children. As part of an extensive and ongoing investigation, three individuals—Jon Jones of Dickens, IA, Devin Howes of Hawkeye IA, and Taylor Smith of Creston IA—have recently been arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

“These are deeply disturbing crimes, and we want the community to know that protecting our children remains our highest priority,” said Chief Paul Becthold. “Our department has spent countless hours investigating these cases and working alongside other agencies to build solid cases against these three suspects.”

Each of the arrested individuals is facing felony-level charges tied to child exploitation and related offenses. Due to the sensitive nature of these cases and the need to protect the integrity of the investigation, specific details will not be released at this time.