Iowa City Criminal Defense Blog

Drugs, mental health issues fueling felony crimes in rural Iowa

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Monday, May 14, 2018.

It seems much of rural Iowa is facing an increase in violent crimes. These felony crimes in are being pinned on the increase of not only Iowa residents facing mental health issues, but also on the burgeoning drug problem, especially the use of crystal meth. Headlines in local papers screaming rape, arson and murder are becoming much more prevalent.

Authorities are noticing the marked increase in these types of serious crimes. In fact, the problem is so widespread that the Department of Corrections has scheduled a summit to address the issues. Those who have moved to rural area with the perception that smaller is safer, have apparently been disappointed in what is taking place -- often in their own backyards.

Male faces drug charge in connection with pot peddling, growing

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Drug Charges on Monday, April 30, 2018.

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.

Sex crimes: Iowa man accused of assaulting college student

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Monday, April 16, 2018.

A 20-year-old Sioux City resident has been charged with the sexual assault of a female university student. The assault allegedly took place in the woman's dorm room at Iowa State University in September of last year. In terms of sex crimes, sexual abuse is a serious allegation, and man has been charged with three counts in the third degree.

It is claimed that the man started sending the woman messages about a week prior to the alleged assault. The man wanted to meet the woman, who told him he could sleep on her sofa, but that she did not want to have sex with him. According to police documents, the two were watching a movie when the man kissed the woman, who supposedly did not reciprocate.

Iowa woman arrested for credit card fraud

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Fraud on Sunday, April 1, 2018.

A 48-year-old woman has been accused of using a stolen credit card for at least six months. The Iowa resident is facing 19 felony charges in connection with the alleged credit card fraud after having supposedly used the card in two different states. She is being held in custody.

She has been charged with six counts each of credit card fraud, forgery and identity theft, in addition to the commission of a specified unlawful activity. The card she allegedly used belonged to one person. Authorities believe the woman racked up nearly $3,000 in charges on the card in Iowa and Minnesota before it was either canceled or declined at which point the woman allegedly posed as the owner of the card to obtain a new one.

Iowa couple facing drug charges

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

A man and a woman -- 25 and 24 years of age, respectively -- have been charged with drug crimes. The drug charges were made after police searched their home and allegedly found a number of illegal drugs. The Iowa couple were said to be in possession of marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs. The two were taken into custody after the execution of a search warrant.

The prescription drugs apparently included Clonadine, Trazodone, Clonazepam, Oxycodone, Alprazolam and Hydrocodone. They were allegedly found in the woman's purse. Reportedly, she didn't have a prescription for any of the drugs. The man is charged with a failing to affix a drug tax stamp as well as a controlled substance violation. He is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

Iowa man busted again for drug manufacturing

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Drug Charges on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

A parolee was recently arrested again on a same charge -- for allegedly making meth. The 54-year-old man, an Iowa resident, is facing a Class B felony drug manufacturing charge of possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Police say they searched the man's home on a warrant where the allegedly found a meth lab along with hydrochloric acid, which provided the power for the lab. The accused has priors in two Iowa counties and served time for aggravated battery, a charge to which he pleaded guilty. He also has several other drug-related and theft convictions in the state.

Sexting is a dangerous felony

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Kids with cell phones quickly learn how much freedom they have to communicate confidentially with their peers. It is not the same as it was just a few decades ago when the only phone in the house was on the kitchen wall, and calls were taken with no expectation of privacy. However, police in Iowa are concerned that some kids have a false sense of privacy when they send certain messages to their friends. This may cause them to take dangerous chances, risking damage to their reputations, threats to their safety and felony charges.

It is called "sexting," and it involves sending lewd images of oneself to someone else. Police say it is prevalent among girls ages 12 to 16, and this is what complicates the already delicate situation. Sending or requesting images of a minor, even if the person requesting is a minor, is a felony. If the person sends or received lewd images of a minor across state lines, federal charges could result.

What constitutes a white collar crime in Iowa?

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Monday, February 5, 2018.

In Iowa and elsewhere, there are a number of criminal charges people can face, from serious felonies to relatively minor misdemeanors. People may have heard the term "white collar crime," but they may not be exactly certain what that means. What, exactly, is a white collar crime? Perhaps more importantly, what might someone accused of such a crime expect to face?

White collar crime is an umbrella term that generally applies to any type of alleged illegal activity motivated by financial gain and usually committed through deceit in a non-violent manner. Commonly, white collar crimes involve fraud or embezzlement; more specifically, they include things like insider trading, tax evasion, money laundering and insurance fraud. In fact, a great number of white collar crimes are various types of fraud.

Iowa city woman accused of felony, misdemeanors after brawl

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Felonies on Monday, January 22, 2018.

Far too often, what actually occurred during any incident involving alleged illegal activity boils down to who says what. Of course, sometimes there are cameras or multiple witnesses, but other times it's difficult for police and court officials to be certain of exactly what occurred, which is only one reason a seasoned criminal defense attorney can be so invaluable. A lawyer's knowledge and experience can be crucial in a situation such as a recent case involving an Iowa City woman who is facing multiple charges, including a felony.

According to Iowa City police, officers were summoned one afternoon last month after receiving reports of a brawl. The melee reportedly involved multiple people and weapons, including knives and a baseball bat. When police arrived on the scene, however, most of those involved had supposedly fled, leaving only the alleged victims of the incident behind.

An Iowa drug charge is no small matter, regardless of amount

On behalf of Foster Law Office posted in Drug Charges on Monday, January 8, 2018.

Despite current legal changes and uncertainties on both a state and federal level surrounding marijuana regulations and policies, drug charges are no small matter, regardless of any extenuating circumstances. Even for a drug charge involving a small amount of marijuana and no other substances, current laws mean that being convicted on misdemeanor possession charges can result in the creation of a criminal record where none may have existed previously. In a recent alleged incident in Iowa, the amount in question is not one most individuals would consider small, either.

According to Iowa City police, the incident began when a suspect was reportedly observed speeding and failing to stop at a stop sign. When officers gave chase, they claim a passenger from the back of the truck exited the vehicle. They say their pursuit continued until the truck crashed into a yard after running another stop sign.