LOGAN, Iowa — The music director of the West Harrison Community School District was arrested Friday on a dozen counts of child sex crimes.
Benjamin James Work, 43, of Modale, Iowa, was charged with five counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee, five counts of lascivious conduct with a minor and two counts of indecent contact with a child.
On April 22, 2022, the Harrison County Sheriff’s office, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, began an investigation April 22 after receiving a report of a possible inappropriate relationship between Work and a minor student.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement identified six minor students with whom Work allegedly had inappropriate contact between the fall 2021 and spring 2022.
Work was placed on administrative leave by the West Harrison Community School District April 22, and he resigned from the school district June 3.
Work was arrested at his residence without incident. He is held in the Harrison County Jail in advance of an initial appearance in Harrison County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
