(Des Moines) The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Cresco Police Department arrested 73-year-old James Hughes of Cresco at his residence on Wednesday on several warrants related to a historical sex abuse investigation.
On March 21, 2021, a report was filed with the Cresco Police Department regarding a historical sexual abuse between Hughes and a juvenile Boy Scout Troop member over several years. After the initial report, Police called in the Iowa DCI to assist them. During the investigation, agents learned of several other instances of historical sexual abuse involving Hughes and other juvenile Boy Scout members of his troop. Some of those instances spanned more than a decade.
The Howard County Attorney’s Office requested the Iowa Attorney General become involved with the investigation and prosecution. This led to the arrest of Hughes, who faces four counts of Sexual Abuse in the third degree and six counts of Lascivious Conduct with a Minor involving five separate victims.
Hughes is held on a $46,000 cash or surety bond in the Howard County Jail.
The arrest is a joint investigation involving the Cresco Police Department, DCI, Howard County Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Attorney General of Iowa, Statewide Prosecution Section.
