Iowa Wesleyan professor arrested for stalking, eavesdropping

Iowa Wesleyan University Division of Science Chair and Criminal Justice Institute Director Richard Buffington of Winfield was arrested in Ainsworth on Sunday, charged with stalking and electronic eavesdropping, which are aggravated and serious misdemeanors, respectively.

Court documents allege that Buffington had placed a recording device in his ex-wife’s car, tracked it via Onstar, and placed nails in the tires, according to his daughters, who are both minors, and his ex-wife.

“Richard took his 13 and 15 yoa daughter's [sic.] to his Iowa Wesleyan University office and played the recordings for them ... one of the daughter's obtained the recording device, along with a zip drive and turned it over to Law Enforcement,” an affidavit signed by an officer said. “The daughter indicated that she located the device in Richard's bedroom night stand, and identified it as the one that she had heard the recordings on.”

The affidavit said Buffington’s daughters and ex-wife had also provided text message conversations, photos, ring camera footage and personal accounts of the allegations in Washington County.

“This is a personal, family-related matter that does not involve Iowa Wesleyan,” an Iowa Wesleyan University spokesperson said. “However, given the charges outlined, the professor [Buffington] has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.”

Buffington’s $3,000 bail was posted by a family member according to court documents, but he remains under a no contact order that also bars him from possessing firearms or crossing state lines for the time being.

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