Hunter
09/11/26
A former Solon High School choir instructor who was charged with sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of three teenage students, has been allowed to post bond and is out of jail ahead of arraignment.
43-year-old Joel Foreman of Mt. Vernon was booked into the Johnson County Jail August 21st. The Johnson County Sheriff’s office says between August of 2016 and May of 2017 Foreman became involved in a sexual relationship with one of his students, who was 15 years old at the time.
Foreman is also accused of having a sexual relationship with two other students between August of 2016 and June of 2020, and between April and May of 2019.
He was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee and two counts of 3rd-degree sexual abuse, all forcible felonies.
Under a 2026 amended Iowa law, a forcible felony creates a presumption that the defendant is dangerous and that no sufficient bond or condition of release can assure personal safety of other persons in the community.
The law, however, also allows a defendant to rebut the presumption by showing conditions of release will reasonably assure the personal safety of another person or persons. The Gazette reports Foreman’s lawyer argued the point, and 6th Judicial District Judge David Cox granted Foreman $35,000 bail. He also has to wear an ankle monitor, be supervised by community corrections, continue with therapy and have no contact with the victims.
In his ruling this week, Cox said Foreman no longer worked for the Solon School District and has limited access to minors. He also said there’s no evidence that Foreman has committed any criminal acts since May 2020.
Foreman is scheduled to be arraigned September 18th. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 35 years in prison.