LEMARS, Iowa – On Thursday September 24, 2020, former Plymouth County Deputy Aaron Leusink was taken into custody by agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Leusink has been charged with multiple criminal charges related to burglaries and thefts that occurred while he was employed as a Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputy between December 2017 and January 2020.
The following is the list of charges pending against Leusink:
– 1 count of Burglary 1st Degree (Class B Felony)
– 2 counts of Burglary in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)
– 2 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Class D Felony)
– Felonious Misconduct in Office (Class D Felony)
– Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs (Serious Misdemeanor)
– 1 count of theft in the 4th Degree (Serious Misdemeanor)
– 3 Counts of theft in the 5th Degree (Simple Misdemeanor)
A $30,000.00 cash or surety bond has been set for Leusink.
On April 16, 2020, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, while conducting a review of their internal records, became aware of potential criminal acts that involved Leusink. At that time, Plymouth County Sheriff Mike VanOtterloo requested that the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation review and handle the investigation.
Leusink was terminated on April 23, 2020, from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Comments From Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo:
On 9/24/20, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) executed an arrest warrant on Aaron John Luesink, former deputy with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, for multiple acts of burglary and stealing relating to prescription medications. Luesink was placed on administrative leave during an independent investigation by the DCI, then terminated from the sheriff’s office in April of 2020.
While conducting an internal investigation into misconduct while on duty, Sheriff Van Otterloo and Chief Deputy Te Brink suspected alleged criminal activity by Leusink and immediate contact was made with the DCI requesting their assistance in this investigation.
Every day the employees of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office put forth a tremendous amount of effort to serve with integrity, honesty, and public trust. It is disheartening to have that effort tarnished by the actions of one person, whose misconduct does not define who we are. Former deputy Leusink neglected his oats in acting in a manner unbecoming of an officer of the law. He will face the consequences of his actions. Meanwhile, the men and women of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office are dedicated to serve and protect and will continue to do so.
As the Plymouth County Sheriff, I promise to continue serving our constituents with the values we have outlined in our “Mission Statement:” HONESTY and INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT, TEAMWORK, PROFESSIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMMUNITY. I want to publicly thank my tremendous staff for their support and encouragement during this time.
Mike Van Otterloo, Sheriff of Plymouth County
Charges Filed Against Aaron Luesink From Court File Records
Count 1
The Defendant is accused ofthe crime ofBURGLARY 1st DEGREE, a Class B Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 713.3(b) in that the Defendant, on 1/7/2020, while on duty as a Plymouth
County Sheriff Deputy, with intent to commit theft, unlawfully entered or remained in the kitchen of an occupied structure at 28847 South Ridge Road, Hinton, Plymouth County, Iowa, and was in possession of a dangerous weapon.
Count 2
The Defendant is accused of the crime of BURGLARY 2nd DEGREE, a Class C Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 713.5(a) in that the Defendant, on 12/8/2017, while on duty as a Plymouth County Sheriff Deputy, with intent to commit theft, unlawfully entered or remained in the evidence room of an unoccupied structure at the LeMars Police Department, Plymouth County, Iowa, and was in possession of a dangerous weapon.
Count 3
The Defendant is accused of the crime of BURGLARY 2nd DEGREE, a Class C Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 713.5(a) in that the Defendant, on 1/16/2020, while on duty as a Plymouth County Sheriff Deputy, with intent to commit theft, unlawfully entered or remained in an unoccupied structure at 35008 C30, Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, and was in possession of a dangerous weapon.
Count 4
The Defendant is accused of the crime of BURGLARY 3rd DEGREE, a Class D Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 713.6A in that the Defendant, on 12/4/2019, with intent to commit theft, unlawfully entered or remained in an unoccupied structure at Thorson Drug in Akron, Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 5
The Defendant is accused of the crime of BURGLARY 3 rd DEGREE, a Class D Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 713.6A in that the Defendant, on 12/16/2019, with intent to commit theft,unlawfully entered or remained in an unoccupied structure at Lewis Family Drug in Kingsley, Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 6
The Defendant is accused of the crime of FELONIOUS MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE, a Class D Felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 721.1 (1) in that the Defendant, on 1/3/2020, while on duty as a Plymouth County Sheriff Deputy, knowingly made a false return of a search warrant written and executed by the Defendant by omitting items he seized, to wit: pills and a 1964 Playboy magazine in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 7
The Defendant is accused of the crime of UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, a Serious Misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa Code section 155A.21 (1) in that the Defendant, on 4/20/2020, was in possession of over 1,600 prescription medication pills ranging from schedule 2 to
schedule 4 drugs that were located in plastic baggies in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 8
The Defendant is accused of the crime of THEFT IN THE 4th DEGREE, a Serious Misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa Code section 714.2 (4) in that the Defendant, sometime between
2/6/2019 and 4/20/20, took possession of the property of another with the intent to deprive the other thereof, to wit: an iPhone, from the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 9
The Defendant is accused of the crime of THEFT IN THE 5th DEGREE, a Simple Misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa Code section 712.2 (5) in that the Defendant took possession of the property of another with intent to deprive the other thereof, to wit: Plymouth County Sheriffs Office evidence bag
#19-011572-001, which contained 17 Hydrocodone pills and a pill bottle from the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 10
The Defendant is accused of the crime of THEFT IN THE 5th DEGREE, a simple Misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa Code section 712.2 (5) in that the Defendant took possession of the property of another with intent to deprive the other thereof, to wit: Plymouth County Sheriffs Office evidence bag
#19-014741-001, which contained 1 Hydrocodone pill from the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Count 11
The Defendant is accused of the crime of THEFT IN THE 5th DEGREE, a simple Misdemeanor, in violation of Iowa Code section 712.2 (5) in that the Defendant, took possession of the property of another with intent to deprive the other thereof, to wit: Plymouth County Sheriffs Office evidence bag
#19-011455-001 with 3 Hydrocodone pills, which was located at the Plymouth County Sheriffs Office in Plymouth County, Iowa.
