Fairfield High School teacher arrested for alleged sexual exploitation, grooming of minor

FAIRFIELD – A Fairfield High School teacher was arrested on Feb. 5 and charged with lascivious acts with a minor, grooming, and sexual exploitation by a school employee.

The Fairfield Police Department announced in a news release that it had arrested 57-year-old Vannen Crabtree Jr. of Richland after obtaining search warrants related to a complaint from a concerned parent. The parent has a juvenile daughter who is a student at Fairfield High School, where Crabtree was teaching industrial technology. The complaint involved “suspicions of inappropriate contact via social media between the juvenile female and an adult male teacher at Fairfield High School.”

As a result of evidence gathered during the investigation, Crabtree was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee (Class D felony), grooming (Class D felony) and lascivious acts with a minor (aggravated misdemeanor). Crabtree was taken to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on no bond, pending an initial court appearance. Later, his bond was set at $5,000, and that bond was paid on Feb. 6, according to court filings.

On Feb. 6, Crabtree’s attorney Ryan J. Mitchell of Osborn, Mitchell & Goedken P.C. of Ottumwa filed a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Fairfield Community School District released an announcement on Feb. 6 as well, indicating that it received word from law enforcement that one of its teachers was involved in an investigation, and upon receiving that information, the district placed him on administrative leave, and shared “relevant information with those who needed to know.”

“As the investigation continued, law enforcement kept us informed of its progress,” the district stated. “Late last night [Feb. 5], we were notified that teacher had been arrested. We will share additional information as it becomes available.”

The Fairfield Community School District hired Crabtree in 2023. When he was introduced as one of the district’s new teachers, information from the district indicated that Crabtree, who goes by the nickname “Rusty,” was originally from Ohio, and that he had 28 years of experience in industrial technology, the subject he would be teaching at FHS.

In November 2023, Crabtree was the featured speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at Fairfield High School. At the time, Crabtree told The Union about his background, which included working as a contractor in Richland, then becoming an associate at Pekin Community School District, where he also coached volleyball. Crabtree was an associate in the Fairfield school district for one year before he was hired to teach industrial tech. Crabtree was also the advisor to Fairfield High School’s SkillsUSA Club that, among other things, has made Christmas ornaments to give away at Santa’s House in Central Park each of the last three years.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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