A former University of Dubuque associate professor of psychology has been charged with new sex offenses involving a minor in Dubuque County.

Nathan Allen Hough was first arrested in March 2026 in Manchester after authorities said he traveled to meet an undercover officer who was posing as a minor for sexual activity. He faced a grooming charge at that time. The charge was dismissed in July 2026 following motions that raised questions about the application of Iowa’s grooming statute in relation to the state’s age of consent.

On September 1, 2026, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation filed a new criminal complaint against Hough. Court records state that investigators found multiple images of child pornography on his phone. According to the complaint, Hough told authorities he possessed the images so he could send them to other men he was communicating with because those individuals were “into that.”

Hough now faces charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of a depiction of a minor engaged in a sex act.

Court documents in the case State of Iowa vs. Hough, Nathan Allen (Dubuque County Case No. 01311 FECR165522) show these recent filings:

•  34 criminal complaints submitted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on September 1, 2026.

•  An order authorizing an arrest warrant signed by Judge Mark T. Hostager on September 3, 2026.

•  An arrest warrant issued the same day.

•  The warrant served by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department on September 3, 2026.

•  An application for court-appointed counsel and financial statement filed that day.

•  An appearance entered by attorney Joshua Ryan Sims on September 3, 2026.

Hough is no longer employed by the University of Dubuque. He was terminated shortly after the original March 2026 arrest.

All individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The new accusations remain unproven allegations at this time.

Hough is being held on a $100,000 cash surety bond .