UPDATED: Osky couple charged with sex crimes
May 13—OSKALOOSA — An Oskaloosa husband and wife were arrested Thursday and charged with multiple felony sexual offenses.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said 41-year-old Dustin Flaherty and 40-year-old Sara Flaherty, a husband and wife from Oskaloosa, were arrested Thursday at their home. The arrests come after the Oskaloosa Police Department and the DCI conducted a joint investigation into allegations of sexual assaults.
Dustin Flaherty, 41, was charged with conspiracy to commit sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse.
Sara Flaherty, 40, was charged with conspiracy to commit sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of drug distribution to a person under the age of 18.
The two were booked into the Mahaska County Jail where they remain in custody as of Friday afternoon. Sara Flaherty is being held on a $500,000 cash only bond while Dustin Flaherty is being held on a $300,000 cash only bond.
The investigation into the two is ongoing, a press release from the DCI said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oskaloosa Police Department at 641-672-2557.
According to court filings made by investigators, the investigation involves at least one juvenile and two adult victims who reported assaults involving drugs and sexual acts. One other juvenile victim reported being provided marijuana. The alleged events took place from 2017 through 2022.
A search warrant involving the couple was sought last September. According to the warrant application, police had received a report of a juvenile who reported a sexual assault involving the couple at their residence in Oskaloosa. The juvenile told investigators she was provided alcohol and marijuana while at the home, according to court filings.
Kyle Ocker is the editor of the Oskaloosa Herald and the Ottumwa Courier. He can be reached at kocker@oskyherald.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kyle_Ocker.
