Former Wynot teacher is being detained pending federal trial

SIOUX CITY, IOWA — A former Wynot teacher was ordered to be detained pending trial in a federal case where he is charged with attempted human trafficking and enticement of a female.

Andrew Heller, 39, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has appeared in U.S. District Court to face the felony charges. FBI investigators had been monitoring communications between Heller and a 14-year-old in which Heller asked her for sex and offered to pay $200. Heller worked as a teacher and coach at Wynot Public Schools at the time of his arrest this summer.

Heller was originally charged in Woodbury County, Iowa, until the charges were dismissed and refiled in federal court last month. He is represented by the federal public defender’s office.

A trial date was set for February. In other court cases: - Jackson Metheny, 26, Laurel, appeared in Cedar County Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal trespassing and disturbing the peace for allegedly entering a home without permission.

Metheny was charged with felonies for allegedly assaulting a Cedar County jailer; violating a protection order and stalking related to the victim in the first case; and escape, theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle when he escaped from jail, allegedly stole an ATV and left the area. The felony charges were bound over to district court.

- Jessica Reeder, 29, Hartington, received 24 months of probation for misdemeanor shoplifting and was ordered to pay $3,680.53 in restitution. A felony shoplifting charge was dismissed. The theft occurred at Dollar General in Hartington.

- David Schenk, 38, Wynot, appeared in Cedar County Court and felony strangulation and misdemeanor child abuse charges were dismissed. One misdemeanor count of domestic assault remains in the case with arraignment set for Dec. 7.