Hunter
03/14/25
A former West High School paraeducator has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation by a school employee.
KCJJ previously reported 22-year-old Joel Munzilla was arrested this past June after investigators determined he had a relationship with a student while he was working at the school. Between September 1 and October 18th, 2023, he regularly would ask the student to leave the school during the school day and meet at a predetermined location in a nearby neighborhood. According to the criminal complaint, Munzila would take the student to a home in Coralville where they would engage in sexual activity and then would drop the student off in a neighborhood near the school.
The student told police this happened about five times. When interviewed, Munzila denied ever having the student in his car, but surveillance video allegedly shows him picking the student up near the school. An additional Snapchat video reportedly shows Munzila and the student in his car together.
Munzilla entered a written plea of guilty last week and is seeking a deferred judgement and probation at sentencing. The prosecution will argue that Munzilla should be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
In a letter to families from West High Principal Mitch Gross, he was removed from his position after the school learned of the allegations against him and the Iowa City Police Department was contacted.
