Iowa City Criminal Defense Blog

A 36-year-old man has accepted a plea deal in connection with the alleged sexual assault of two children over a period of six years. The Iowa resident maintains his innocence in the apparent sex crimes even though he took the deal offered to him. Felony charges filed against him include two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse.

The actual ages and genders of the children involved have not been divulged; however, all are 15 years of age or under. In Iowa, being found guilty of one count of second degree abuse can mean up to 25 years in prison. The county attorney is expected to ask that the man's two 10-year sentences should be served concurrently and his name added to a sex offender registry for the remainder of his life. He is also expected to ask that the man pay two $1,000 fines.

A 40-year-old man is in police custody for charges stemming from a car crash that also injured his passenger. The Iowa resident, who is now facing a drug charge, was apparently driving north on Interstate 29 around 6 a.m. when his vehicle left the road and crossed the median. The car then struck a rail in the southbound lane. The man's 26-year-old male passenger was taken to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. 

Upon investigation, police officers allegedly found paraphernalia for smoking pot in the vehicle. They also reportedly found a marijuana grinder and loose marijuana in a backpack. The man was arrested and taken to jail, where a methamphetamine pipe was allegedly found on him. The accused apparently admitted to authorities that he had smoked marijuana. 

A woman has been put on probation after pleading guilty to two separate charges. The Iowa resident was charged with credit card fraud and first-degree theft. She was accused of stealing $30,000 from her employer, which the judge ordered her to pay back. The judge sentenced the 33-year-old to four years probation. She was the office manager of a trucking company.

The woman apparently used employer checks and credit cards to fatten up her own bank account by thousands of dollars used to pay for personal expenses including dinners out, groceries, home improvements and clothes. Her local fire department and municipality offices benefited from the theft since she also bought them computers with the stolen funds. The woman was taken into custody in August and apparently also turned in fake time cards which gave her an extra $10,000 over a two-year period. 

A 28-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly growing and selling marijuana on his property. The Iowa man is facing a felony drug charge after police say they found 14 pounds of cannabis and pot products during a search by warrant of his residence. Formal charges include the sale and manufacturing of drugs on public property -- in close proximity to a public park, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug tax stamp violation.

Cops say they found about a pound of cannabis in dab form -- or wax slabs, and about 13 pounds in flower form. They also claim to have turned up devices for smoking pot. The actual pot has about a $36,000 street value. The street value of the dabs is estimated by police at about $20,000 since a gram goes for between $40-$60. Police also reportedly found about $2,000 in cash.