An Ames Police Department investigation has led to the arrest of a former Nevada wrestling coach charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and invasion of privacy.
According to a press release from the Ames Police Department, on Feb. 24, officers responded to an incident at the Ames Target, where there was a report of a person filming a female while unknowingly changing in one of the store’s fitting rooms.
A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Michael Leslie Jr., age 45, of Maxwell, Iowa for sexual exploitation of a minor (a Class B Felony) and invasion of privacy – nudity (three counts, an aggravated misdemeanor).
Leslie served as an assistant girls’ wrestling coach for the Nevada Community School District beginning in 2022. Previously, he had coached at Collins-Maxwell Community School District.
Leslie allegedly placed a cell phone camera under the fitting room door to record images of the victims, according to the criminal complaint.
The investigation began after a juvenile female believed she was being filmed while she was “nude or in a state of undress” Feb. 24.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim confronted Leslie, and Leslie left before officers could arrive. A search warrant was then completed, and data extracted from Leslie’s phone found an image of the juvenile female.
Three additional victims were identified as having been photographed by Leslie and have been contacted by the department, according to Ames Police Sgt. Cole Hippen. The three additional victims were all adult females, photographed by Leslie on Feb. 15, 16 and 17.
“We’ve identified four victims from dates between Feb. 15 and Feb. 24 and those we’ve been able to identify,” Hippen said. “We have reached out and contacted those victims and the charges that have been filed reflect those victims that have been identified.”
Hippen said the department is still conducting the investigation and is open to leads from the public that may help identify additional victims.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to look into leads or information provided to us that would lead us to identifying any additional victims,” Hippen said.
At the time of publication, Leslie was released from the Story County Jail and placed on pre-trial supervision after initially having a bond set at $55,000.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is being asked to call the Ames Police at 515-239-5133. Those wishing to submit an anonymous tip may call 515-233-1400, or submit an online tip at www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.
