The Linn County Attorney’s Office says a Cedar Rapids man faces multiple charges after investigators allege he provided THC to a 15-year-old girl, sent sexually explicit messages and touched the girl inappropriately during a brief period in June.
Allegations and charges
According to the criminal complaint filed this week, Deryan L. Sims, 37, sent text messages to the girl between June 8 and June 23 that sought sexual images and contact. The complaint says the messages included requests "to see and touch her 'booty' and to see her naked."
Investigators allege Sims provided the teen with THC during that period and touched her buttocks. The Linn County Attorney’s Office says Sims admitted to these allegations when interviewed by an Iowa Department of Human Services case worker.
- Charge: Distribution of a Schedule I substance (THC) to a minor — classified as a Class B felony.
- Charge: Grooming — classified as a Class D felony.
- Charge: Lascivious conduct with a minor — classified as a serious misdemeanor.
"[He was] requesting to see and touch her 'booty' and to see her naked,"
The statement in the complaint quotes the victim’s description of the texts. Prosecutors and investigators have presented those messages as the core of the alleged grooming behavior.
Detention and next steps
Sims is being held at the Linn County Jail on a $31,000 cash or surety bond. The complaint does not specify whether he has entered a plea; court proceedings and any scheduled hearings were not detailed in the public filing summarized by the county attorney’s office.
| Alleged conduct | Charge category |
|---|---|
| Provided THC to a 15-year-old | Class B felony (distribution to a minor) |
| Solicited sexual images and contact via texts | Class D felony (grooming) |
| Touched the victim's buttocks | Serious misdemeanor (lascivious conduct) |
The complaint, as summarized by the Linn County Attorney’s Office, also records an admission by Sims to an Iowa Department of Human Services case worker. Beyond that, the public information does not list other investigative steps or additional evidence the prosecution intends to use.
Context for Cedar Rapids families
Allegations of grooming and distributing controlled substances to minors strike a chord in neighborhoods where parents and guardians balance kids’ independence with concerns about online and in-person risks. Local law enforcement and social services often collaborate on such cases: criminal charges proceed through the county attorney’s office while child-protection interviews and support may be coordinated by DHS.
For residents, the case highlights several recurring issues in local child-safety work: how investigators document digital communications, how admissions are handled in welfare interviews, and how charging decisions align with statutory classifications for controlled substances and sex-related offenses involving minors.
The Linn County Attorney’s Office filed the complaint this week; additional records, upcoming court dates and statements from defense counsel were not available in the public summary of the filing. As the case moves through the county criminal justice system, hearings will determine whether the charges proceed to trial or are resolved through plea negotiations.
Community members with information about the case or similar incidents typically are asked to contact local law enforcement or the Linn County Attorney’s Office. Support resources for minors and families involved in sexual-abuse investigations are available through Iowa DHS and local victim-services organizations.
This report is based on the criminal complaint and public summaries provided by the Linn County Attorney’s Office and does not include responses or comment from the accused or defense representatives.
