Jeremy Matney

TRAER — A rural Toledo man was arrested this past Monday in connection with two separate indecent exposure incidents that took place near North Tama Schools during morning drop-off.

According to a press release from the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, at around 8 a.m. on Sept. 19, the Tama Co. Communications Center received a 911 call from a North Tama staff member reporting that three adolescent girls at two separate locations saw a man in a vehicle exposing his genitals.

The locations were listed by the North Tama Community School District on the district’s Facebook page as being one block from the school on Sixth Street and four blocks from the school on Mill Street.

Jeremy Andrew Matney, 47, of rural Toledo, was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of indecent exposure — masturbation in the presence of a child, each an aggravated misdemeanor, in connection with the incidents.

Matney was arrested just before 1 p.m. in Waterloo.

According to court documents, a female North Tama student was walking to school in Traer when she saw a male in a white truck approaching her and a friend. The male, later identified as Matney, allegedly waved at the two students and showed his genitals.

A third female student reported a similar incident involving a male in a white truck who exposed his genitals to her.

The truck – allegedly driven by Matney – was later observed near the school, and a North Tama employee was able to obtain the license plate number and vehicle description at that time.

“We applaud the students who came to school and reported these incidents immediately after they happened,” the North Tama Community School District wrote on the district’s Facebook page following the incident on Sept. 19. “Their parents and law enforcement were notified immediately. A license plate number and detailed description of the vehicle were quickly provided to law enforcement.”

On both Tuesday and Wednesday, deputies with the Tama County Sheriff’s Office were observed near the North Tama School campus during drop-off.

When asked if deputies planned to increase their presence around the school in the days ahead, Chief Deputy Joe Quandt told the T-R that deputies “normally try to patrol around the schools in the morning and afternoon.”

Matney made an initial appearance in custody in district court on Sept. 20. He was released on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is set for October 7 at 9:00 a.m. No attorney was listed for Matney at the time of publication.

Also on Sept. 20, a temporary no-contact order of protection for the three minor victims was issued by the court.