Report: Pastor Among Two with Iowa City Ties Arrested in Marion Sex Sting

The Rev. Jonathan L. Offt, 41, is facing charges relating to soliciting a prostitute after being the first of nine people person arrested in a sting in Marion, according to a report from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Michael Romanowski of Iowa City was also arrested Friday in the Division of Criminal Investigation and Marion Police Department operation, according to the report.

Police placed "very sexual" ads online and arrested those that showed up to meet an undercover female officer, according to the Gazette article. Offt was arrested after he arrived and offered money in exchange for a sex act, it said.

Offt was senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, although he is no longer listed on the church website as of Monday afternoon. According to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City, he served that church from Sept. 14, 1997, when he was installed as assistant pastor, until his farewell on April 30, 2000. He served other churches in Des Moines and Davenport before going to Trinity in 2003, according to the Gazette.

According to online records, Offt has a clean criminal record in Iowa other than four speeding tickets.