Iowa social workers accused of improper relationships with clients – Iowa Capital Dispatch

An Iowa social employee accused of giving marijuana to a 15-year-old affected person has agreed to chorus from training whereas felony costs towards him are pending in court docket.

State information point out Benjamin Skeers, 41, of West Des Moines, is dealing with one depend of drug distribution to an individual below the age of 18, and one depend of utilizing a minor within the drug commerce.

In keeping with police, Skeers allegedly texted a 15-year-old feminine affected person of his in March 2021 and requested the woman to offer him with some “shrooms.” Skeers and the teenager allegedly agreed on a value and the easiest way to offer the product, however the teen’s mom noticed the textual content trade and the deal was not consummated.

In November 2021, Skeers allegedly gave the woman marijuana throughout a remedy session at Life Works in Ankeny.

The police studies point out Skeer admitted to police that he requested the woman for “shrooms” and provided her with marijuana. He has pleaded not responsible to each felony costs. A trial date has but to be set.

The Iowa Board of Social Work has negotiated an settlement with Skeers whereby he has agreed to not apply social work whereas the felony costs are pending. In return, the board has agreed to not pursue licensing costs towards him whereas the felony case stays unresolved.

In 2018, Skeers was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after police discovered a tool in his automobile that he stated was used for smoking liquid marijuana oils. Polk County prosecutors later declined to prosecute the case, saying Skeers had accomplished “the required variety of hours” of group service and had submitted to a substance-abuse analysis.

Different licensing board motion

In different, unrelated issues, the Iowa Board of Social Work not too long ago took motion involving different licensees:

— James Burkhalter of Iowa Metropolis, who’s charged by the board with violating laws associated to the apply of social work. The allegations that prompted the costs have but to be publicly disclosed by the board, however one of many laws Burkhalter is accused of violating prohibits a licensee from partaking in “sexual actions or sexual contact” with present or former shoppers.

Court docket information present that in August, the College of Iowa police had been granted a search warrant for Burkhalter’s cellphone. In making use of for that warrant, a police detective informed the court docket {that a} former affected person of Burkhalter’s on the College of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics had claimed late final yr to have had intercourse with Burkhalter whereas he was nonetheless her therapist.

In keeping with the search warrant software, Burkhalter “retained his employment at UIHC” after the lady first made the allegations and Burkhalter denied them. In April 2022, nevertheless, Burkhalter allegedly was again in contact with the lady, regardless of the hospital having directed him to don’t have any additional contact together with her, in response to the warrant software.

The police detective informed the court docket he had obtained images of textual content messages on the alleged sufferer’s cellphone, exhibiting conversations between the alleged sufferer and Burkhalter, with Burkhalter allegedly writing, “Let’s f—!,” after which persevering with with extra express dialogue.

Burkhalter’s cellphone was subsequently seized however no felony costs have been filed within the matter.

— Amanda Eason McCall of Castana, who was charged in 2018 with partaking in sexual exercise with a person who was additionally a shopper of hers on the time. McCall surrendered her license on the time. The board not too long ago agreed to reinstate her license, topic to a three-year probationary interval wherein she should have a board-approved worksite monitor who will work repeatedly in the identical bodily location as McCall and may objectively report on her actions at work.

— Michelle Weltzin-Coach of Davenport, who was not too long ago charged by the board with violating laws associated to the apply of social work. The allegations that prompted the costs have but to be publicly disclosed by the board, however one of many laws Weltzin-Coach is accused of violating prohibits licensees from partaking in a nonsexual, twin relationship with a shopper – resembling a social relationship, emotional relationship, employment relationship or a enterprise affiliation.

One other of the laws she is accused of violating prohibits a licensee from taking unfair benefit of an expert relationship, or exploiting others to additional one’s personal private, spiritual, political or enterprise pursuits.