On June 17th, 2022, the Britt Police Department responded to a report of a possible inappropriate relationship between a former West Hancock school teacher Steve M. Heston and a minor student. The Britt Police Department then initiated an investigation into the allegation.
Upon completion of the investigation, warrants were issued for Heston. On March 23rd, Heston was booked into the Winnebago County Jail with charges stemming from the case. These were Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee which is a Class D Felony and Enticing a Minor which is another Class D Felony.
The investigation was assisted by the Hancock County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Kanawha Police Department, ICAC Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Child Exploitation Task Force or FBI-ICETF.
