Police chief, assistant police chief, charged Friday

Creston Police Chief Jamie Christensen

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Creston Police Chief Jamie Christensen, 40, and Assistant Police Chief John Sickels, 38, turned themselves in Friday at Iowa State Patrol Post No. 1 in Des Moines. An e-mail from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office says both have been charged with sexual abuse in the second degree, a class B felony which is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Bail has been set at $25,000 for each man. Documents filed in Union County District Court say an investigation by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation suggests that Sickels “did commit a sex act by force or against the will of another while being aided or abetted by another person.” The documents also state that Christensen “did aid or abet a person in the commission of a sex act by force or against the will of another person against whom the sex act was committed.” DCI’s affidavit says the alleged victim is a female bartender who was working at Crestmoor Golf Club in Creston on the night of April 17. According to the affidavit, “by the early morning hours of Friday, April 18, 2008, the only patrons remaining in the bar were James Christensen and John Sickels, who had been at the bar since sometime before 10 p.m. The employee knew that Christensen and Sickels were Creston police officers. At approximately 2 a.m., Sickels requested that the employee perform oral sex on both he and Christensen. The employee refused. Christensen and Sickels then stood up, walked around the bar area and blocked her exit. Christensen stayed near her while Sickels left and soon returned after what she believed was a errand to lock the front door to the club. While Sickels was gone, the employee plead with Christensen not to do this. Upon his return, Sickels had sexual intercourse with the employee against her will while Christensen held her hand, stroked her hair and ‘shushed’ her. Before Sickels pulled her pants down and during the sex act, the employee repeatedly said to Christensen that this was wrong and he knew it was wrong.” The affidavits also states that Sickels and Christensen were interviewed on May 6 by DCI special agents, and at that time they both initially denied that physical contact of any kind had occurred with the employee. The affidavit filed regarding Sickels also states, “He subsequently admitted that he had in fact touched, kissed and digitally penetrated the employee, but had not had sexual intercourse with her. Even later in the interview, he admitted that he did have sexual intercourse with the employee, but asserted that it had been consensual and doubted that Christensen had witnessed the act.” The affidavit filed regarding Christensen states, “He subsequently stated the he may have seen the employee and Sickles dancing and that Sickles may have touched her hip, but he (Christensen) had not seen any sexual intercourse. In the final portion of the interview, Christensen admitted that he had witnessed Sickels having sexual intercourse with the employee, admitted that he (Christensen) touched the employee's hand during the act and admitted that during the act, the victim had expressed that she was not consenting to the act.” DCI Special Agent Kevin Winker, who is in charge of the case said in a Creston News Advertiser interview Friday, the cases against the officers will now be processed through the court system and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office will be prosecuting the cases. A press release issued Friday from the Creston Police Department states that the city of Creston has acknowledged the arrest of Sickels and Christensen and has placed the officers on administrative leave until the city completes its investigative process. Creston City Administrator Mike Taylor said in a CNA interview Friday that the city has assigned leadership of the Creston Police Department. “Fire Chief Todd Jackson is handling the administrative duties for the police station,” he said. “The day-to-day activities are being handled by Sgt. Brian Burkhalter.” A press release signed by Jackson states that “the city of Creston and Creston Police Department will continue to serve the public and protect the citizens and visitors to the community with the high expectations you have always received.” —————— Stephani Finley can be reached at (641) 782-2141 ext. 237 or sfinley@crestonnews.com