Former Essex mayor arrested on felony sexual abuse charges

ESSEX —  A former Essex mayor is in Page County jail after being arrested on charges of sexual abuse, last Monday.

Charles White, 64, was arrested Monday on a warrant and charged with two counts of second degree sexual abuse, both class B felonies.

White, according to a press release from the Page County Prosecuting Attorney, is alleged to have committed sexual abuse of a seven-year-old female.

The arrest came as a result of an investigation by the Essex Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and assisted by the Page County Sheriff’s Department and Shenandoah Police Department.

Terry Klooster, from the Western Iowa office of the DCI, said the Page County Attorney’s office had requested assistance in the investigation. Klooster said it was a joint-investigation by all parties and that DCI will continue to assist in the investigation, including with the prosecutors.

White’s being held on $25,000 cash bond and has a no contact order.
White was mayor of Essex from 1998 until 2002.

A preliminary hearing was held Monday, April 18 at the Page County Courthouse in Clarinda. As of Monday, White was still in Page County jail.

Prosecutors and DCI had no additional comments to make outside of their press release, because the case is still open.

DCI is asking if anyone has information that can be of assistance to the investigation to contact them at 712-322-1585 or the Page County Attorney’s Office at 712-542-2514