(Iowa Capital Dispatch) A former Des Moines Area Community College administrator currently running for a seat on the college’s board of directors has been arrested by the Warren County sheriff’s department on a charge of extortion after a complaint was filed by the board president.
Wade Andrew Robinson of rural Madison County, running against board President Kevin Halterman of Indianola for the board’s fourth-district seat, was arrested at 7:47 p.m. Oct. 30 and charged with extortion with the intent to expose to ridicule, hatred or contempt, according to inmate booking information from the county. Extortion is a class D felony in Iowa.
Halterman said in an interview he filed a complaint against Robinson with the sheriff’s department regarding alleged election violations, but declined to discuss details of the complaint. He also requested a no contact order against Robinson, according to Warren County court documents.
Robinson was released on $5,000 bond and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Nov. 12. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Warren County Attorney Douglas Eichholz said he had no comment.
According to the affidavit included in court records, Halterman reported to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office that he had received an email from Robinson on Aug. 14 in which Robinson allegedly requested a “release settlement and non-disclosure agreement” and $1 million. On Aug. 20, according to the affidavit, Robinson emailed again, telling Halterman “he was planning to run for District 4 Board Seat and was going to start things that weekend.” In order to have his name in consideration for the seat, Robinson needed to have his election paperwork submitted by Aug. 25.
Robinson allegedly said in his email to Halterman he would “hold off” on launching a run for the seat if Halterman agreed to his wishes, according to the affidavit.
“It is believed Wade Robinson is extorting the victim to agree to the money request and he won’t run for the board seat,” the affidavit stated.
Robinson previously served as dean of Student Resources and Ankeny Student Success at DMACC, and has filed complaints against the college and others connected to it for alleged Title IX violations and retaliation against him as a whistleblower. He also accused former board president Joe Pugel and DMACC President Rob Denson of having mishandled university resources in a past election.
Elections for the seat, which covers the Carlisle, Indianola, Interstate 35, Martensdale-St Marys, Melcher-Dallas, Norwalk, Pleasantville, Southeast Warren, Van Meter and Winterset school districts and part of Waukee, will take place Nov. 4.
Photo: Wade Robinson, right, was arrested in Warren County Oct. 30, 2025, and charged with extortion. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
