A Boyden man faces two felony charges after authorities allege he exchanged sexually explicit messages with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old boy and traveled to meet him near Hull.
Ryan John Oostra, 55, was arrested Sunday, October 4, by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with grooming and enticing a minor under 16 for a sexual purpose, both Class D felonies.
According to criminal complaints filed Monday in Sioux County District Court, an officer used a profile depicting a 15-year-old boy on the dating application Grindr during an undercover investigation spanning September 19 through October 4.
The complaints allege Oostra was told the person’s age and acknowledged it, but continued communicating. Authorities allege the conversations included sexually explicit messages describing illegal sexual acts Oostra wanted to engage in with the person he believed was a minor.
On October 4, Oostra allegedly believed the person was parked on a gravel road near Hull. According to the complaints, officers observed Oostra driving to that location to meet the person for the sexual activity discussed in the messages.
The person communicating with Oostra was an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a minor.
At last report, Oostra was being held in the Sioux County Jail. Bond had not been set, according to the booking information.
