Two arrested after investigation into sexual assault of children

Iowa Select reported a vehicle theft on July 24 in Afton.

According to an Union County Sheriff’s report, a 2017 Ford F-550 belonging to Iowa Select was stolen from the United Farmer’s Co-op in Afton. The theft was captured on surveillance cameras. On July 26, the vehicle was tracked to Des Moines and recovered but damaged.

A damage report has not yet been completed. The vehicle is valued at $60,000.

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On July 26 warrants were issued and arrests were made as the result of an investigation into sexual abuse of children at a Lorimor residence. A search warrant was served at 507 Minnesota Ave. in Lorimor; simultaneously, arrest warrants were served in Clarke County and during a traffic stop in Lorimor. A third arrest was made as a result of the traffic stop on unrelated charges.

Jerome McCallum, 44, of Kellerton, was arrested on a traffic stop in Lorimor. McCallum, the driver of the vehicle, was stopped leaving from a residence in the 500 block of Minnesota Avenue. McCallum’s vehicle was searched, which resulted in law enforcement locating a loaded 12 gauge sawed-off shotgun, found next to the driver’s seat and a syringe used to inject methamphetamine, found in the driver’s door. McCallum’s license is revoked and the vehicle he was driving had fraudulent license plates. McCallum was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a short-barreled shotgun.

McCallum is being held in the Union County Jail on $10,000 cash or surety bond.

The passenger of the vehicle, Dalton Thadius Barber, 31, 507 Minnesota Ave., Lorimor, was taken into custody on Union County warrants for two counts of sexual abuse of a child in the second degree, two counts of lascivious acts with a child - solicitation, lascivious acts with a child - fondling or touching, administering harmful substances to a child, three counts of indecent contact with a child, two counts of child endangerment and two counts incest. Barber was additionally charged with trafficking in stolen weapons and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

Barber is being held in the Union County Jail on a total bond for all charges of $215,000 cash or surety. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Roni Lynn Steil, 25, of Chariton, formerly of 507 Minnesota Ave., Lorimor, was taken into custody in Clarke County on Union County warrants for two counts of sexual abuse of a child in the second degree, three counts of indecent contact with a child, two counts of lascivious acts with a child - fondle or touch, lascivious acts with a child -permit/cause child to fondle, two counts child endangerment and incest.

Steil is being held in Adams County Jail on $95,000 cash only bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 2.