BARNES CITY — A Barnes City man was arrested by authorities this weekend after the execution of a search warrant.

On Tuesday, July 25, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the US Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Information was provided to the Sheriff’s Office by an investigator from the ICAC that led to the Sheriff’s Office executing a search warrant in Barnes City.

This search warrant was executed by the Sheriff’s Office on Friday, June 28, 2024, and authorized a search of 325 Pine Street, apartment #8, in Barnes City, in search of all electronic devices used for viewing, downloading, watching, storing, saving, printing, housing, displaying, sharing, or capturing any photographs and/or videos. During the execution of this warrant, Deputies located and seized multiple electronic devices.

As a result of this investigation, Sheriff’s Officials filed a charge of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor against 60-year-old Paul Jeffrey Westphal, who resides at this address. This charge is a class D felony. An arrest warrant was issued for Westphal.

On Saturday, June 29, at approximately 11:55pm, Westphal was found at this residence. He was placed under arrest, pursuant to this warrant, and incarcerated in the Mahaska County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond. The investigation into this matter is continuing and further charges against Westphal are expected.

On Sunday, June 30, Sheriff’s Deputies executed a 2nd search warrant at Westphal’s residence, where further evidence was obtained.