Katherine Klingseis

kklingseis@dmreg.com

A Davenport man has been accused of sexually abusing two victims while he served as their caretaker during Special Olympics in Ames in May, according to court documents.

Tyshon VanBlue, 24, has been charged with five counts of third-degree sexual abuse. He was being held Friday at the Story County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

The Scott County Department of Human Services reported to Iowa State University Police on June 3 that a sexual assault had occurred at Maple Hall, an ISU residence hall, on May 22 or 23.

The victim said that VanBlue performed sex acts on two occasions in VanBlue's room, according to an affidavit.

VanBlue was employed by a community residential care facility and was responsible for the care of the victim and multiple other residents while they were at Iowa State, court documents showed.

The victim reaffirmed the four sex acts occurred during an interview with the St. Luke's Child Protection Center. VanBlue confirmed he was alone with the victim in his room and was helping with the victim's care, but he denied any sexual activity, according to the affidavit.

During the interview with St. Luke's Child Protection Center, the victim said he saw VanBlue touch another resident's genitals on two occasions while at Iowa State during the same period of time.

The first victim also said VanBlue told him to put medicine on the other victim's genitals, but he victim refused, the affidavit said.

The second victim lives in a 24-hour group home facility and "is considered low-functioning and has minimal ability to communicate," the affidavit says. Staff members at the facility confirmed that the victim went to the Special Olympics and that VanBlue acted as his caretaker while at Iowa State.

The victim was also interviewed by St. Luke's Child Protection Center. When asked if a staff member had touched him inappropriately, the victim's "demeanor changed substantially and he appeared to shut down and stop communicating with the interviewer," the affidavit said.

VanBlue is also facing one count of third-degree abuse in Scott County. VanBlue has been accused of performing oral sex on a mentally handicapped or dependent adult and having hand-to-genital contact with the victim numerous times in the past year, the complaint said.

The ages of the victims was not specified.