Substitute teacher charged with stalking student

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — A substitute teacher at Columbus Junction schools faces stalking charges after a custodian found a concerning item underneath the middle school gymnasium bleachers in November.

According to a criminal complaint filed with Iowa Courts, the custodian discovered a cardboard box with a hidden cellphone attached to a charging block on Nov. 21, 2024. The box, which was found under the bleachers, was painted to blend in with the color scheme inside the school and had a hole cut out of the front. The box and devices were immediately turned over to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office who identified the owner as Coletrane Alan Sipes, age 23, of Columbus Junction.

The investigation revealed that Sipes substitute taught in Columbus Junction for physical education, agriculture, and other general education classes. During that time, he had access to all parts of the school including locker rooms, bathrooms, and anywhere else students may change clothes.

Authorities executed a search warrant on Sipe’s residence Nov. 23, 2024 and found multiple mini cameras and electronic devices which were seized and analyzed.

The Joint Forensic Analysis Center In Coralville extracted hundreds of images and videos of a female student who was not aware of the photos being taken.

“A major portion of the images were taken while Sipes was substituting for [the victim’s] classes,” the criminal complaint filed with Iowa Courts stated.

The student and her parents were notified promptly of the situation to ensure the safety of the student. No other students were involved in this investigation.

After interviews with Sipes and the victim it was determined Sipes was engaging in a course of conduct directed at the student that would cause that person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened and it was also determined Sipes knew that a juvenile female student would feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened if a male teacher was conducting this type of behavior toward her.

On Jan. 31, Sipes was placed under arrest for one count of stalking involving a person under the age of 18 and utilizing a technological device while committing stalking. This charge is a Class C felony.

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During the three-month long investigation of Sipes which included multiple search warrants and interviews, authorities seized a cellphone from Sipes’s residence belonging to his stepfather Curtis Canny. Extraction of this device revealed several sexually explicit images of juveniles that appeared to be downloaded from the internet. No juveniles on Canny’s phone were students at Columbus Junction schools.

Canny was placed under arrest on Jan. 31, on seven counts of possession of child pornography, 1st offense. Each count is an aggravated misdemeanor. Additional electronic devices were seized at the time of arrest and subsequent search warrants will be applied for to extract any data from them that is determined to be pornographic material of minors.

A charge is merely an accusation; all parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com