(Des Moines) A man is in custody in Cass County on a grooming charge.
Michael Lee Herteen, 50, from the Des Moines area was arrested and booked by the Windsor Heights Police Department on April 15, on a Cass County Warrant for Grooming, a Class D Felony.
A criminal complaint filed in the case states that the Atlantic Police Department was conducting online undercover operations where an officer was posing as a 15-year-old female in February 2026. During this time, the undercover officer interacted with a social media post of Herteen’s.
The complaint alleges that Herteen then directly messaged the undercover officer and began a correspondence. Records state that the UC told Herteen they were 15 years old, and despite this, Herteen continued the conversations. He allegedly tried to coerce the officer into performing sexual acts and sent explicit photos of himself. Herteen allegedly, is a manager at a major retail company. Records show a request for an arrest warrant was filed on April 13.
Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue confirmed. Herteen is in custody in the Cass County Jail. His is being held on a $50,000 bond.
(Photo courtesy of the Cass County Jail)
