Washington mayor arrested for sexual assault

Lang
1/24/23

The mayor of Washington has been arrested for sexual assault after an incident at a bar he owns.

According to a news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, on Tuesday afternoon Mayor Jaron Rosien turned himself in to Washington County Law Enforcement on a 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse charge.

The alleged victim told investigators he and his friends were playing pool at J.P.’s 207 on West Main Street…which Rosien owns…in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 8th. At one point, Rosien approached the group and asked to play the next game.

As the alleged victim was closing out his bar tab, Rosien reportedly approached him and asked him to play a game with him at the bar. As the two were playing, Rosien began yelling about men’s genitalia. Police say he then ran his hand up the man’s leg to his crotch outside the pants. The man later told investigators the physical contact was unwanted.
Police say the man’s story was corroborated by security video, which also appears to show Rosien fondling and forcing a kiss on the man just before 1:45am.
Rosien served on the Washington city council from 2014-2018 and as mayor from 2018 to the present.

If convicted, Rosien faces a maximum of ten years in prison.