Creston Police: Sex Offender jailed for parole violation

Daniel L. Hayes, 70, of Creston, was taken into custody 10:34 a.m. Aug. 11, at his residence on the charge of harassment, second degree - threaten bodily injury.

According to a Creston Police report, at approximately 8:28 a.m. officers responded to a harassment call at a business on Elm Street. On arrival, Hayes was observed sitting in his truck parked in front of the business.

While speaking to police, Hayes told them it was never going to stop and that he wanted to go to jail. He also told police he was going to rub the victim’s nose in dog feces.

The victim told police during a previous incident Hayes had gone into his business and threatened bodily injury to the victim.

Hayes was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $1,000 cash bond.

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Blake J. Gunter, 36, of Creston, was taken into custody 4:57 p.m. Aug. 11, at his residence on a Union County warrant for the charge of parole violation.

According to an Iowa Department of Correctional Services report, after an office appointment with his parole officer June 18, Gunter’s phone was reviewed. It was discovered Gunter had accessed social media apps without approval, which he admitted to. He also had an email address which was not registered with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry and had deleted text messages and internet history from the phone.

Gunter had traveled to multiple locations within the state he did not have approval to go to, including a movie theatre and the state fairgrounds. Gunter traveled out of state to Missouri twice in 2024 without permission.

Google Maps showed Gunter at Corning Elementary School three separate times in April, which, due to the age of his victim, he is prohibited from being at without written approval from the school district, which he did not have.

In July, Gunter’s parole officer noticed Gunter had registered a new social media account with the Iowa Sex Offender registry despite being clearly told by parole that he was not allowed to have any social media accounts.

Gunter also was charged in Union County July 31 with a sex offender verification violation.

Gunter was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond.