CLIVE, Iowa — State Librarian Michael Lynn Scott was arrested and charged with disseminating obscene material to who he thought was a teenage boy, Clive police announced Friday.
Police said Scott was arrested Wednesday. He has been the State Librarian since 2014.
Scott began messaging with a 14-year-old boy named "Ricky" on the messaging app KiK on Aug. 13, according to court documents.
Using the username "mscott9294" and identifying himself as "Michael" from Iowa during their conversation, Scott said he was on the app "out of curiosity," police said. Court documents state Scott told "Ricky" he likes "chatting people" and "being dirty lol."
Scott allegedly sent multiple graphic photos and videos of himself to "Ricky," who multiple times told Scott he was 14.
The "Ricky" he thought he was talking to was actually a deputy from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, who passed the case onto the Clive Police Department.
Scott has been charged with a serious misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine and registration on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.
"In this day and age, with technology being so ingrained in everyday life, you never really know who is on the other end of an app like this," Clive Police Chief Mark Rehberg said in a statement Friday. "In this case, it was an undercover deputy, but in many instances, the victims are young children, and these contacts can lead to more serious offenses. This is a good reminder for parents to check in with their kids, see what type of apps they are using, and make sure they are making appropriate decisions to stay safe in digital spaces."
Scott's photo was removed from the State Library of Iowa's website after Clive PD sent a news release of his arrest. In fiscal year 2023 he was paid a salary of just over $167,000 according to the Iowa state employee salary book.
The department website has already listed someone else as Interim State Librarian.
Scott began serving as State Librarian of Iowa in November 2014. He previously served as assistant director of one of Minnesota's 12 regional public library systems and had 20 years of library experience before coming to Iowa.
The State Library of Iowa is a state agency that works to improve Iowa's public library services and "deliver specialized information services to state government and Iowans," according to the official state website. It provides resources and information to public librarians and the Law Library in the Capitol.
Scott was booked into the Dallas County Jail but he has since posted bond.