Washington teen charged with exploitation of minor, hours after unrelated sentence

WASHINGTON — A 19-year-old was charged with sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old, after an incident police claim occurred on Oct. 31, the same day as his guilty plea in an unrelated robbery case.

Law enforcement officials claim Jaden Miller urged a girl to expose her breasts during a video call, where he “made frequent mention of sexual intercourse interactions intended for the minor,” in a news release sent by the Washington Police Department Friday.

Court documents said the call was recorded, and that the recording was announced through an automated message, but did not specify which party to the call made the recording.

“Miller did not deny the interaction took place,” wrote Washington Criminal Investigator Brian VanWilligen in an affidavit. “He indicated he believed [the girl] was eighteen at the time she exposed her breasts to him, although he readily admitted to having known [the girl] for a prolonged period of time.”

Police said Miller remained in the Washington County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond, as of Friday morning. The charge represents a Class B felony, if convicted, due to recent legislation increasing penalties for the crime under Iowa state law.

Miller, in the same week, received a 25-year suspended sentence placing him at a residential facility, according to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, for robbing a man in a parked car in Washington in early 2022 as a juvenile.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com