Nobody goes out to the bars hoping to end up in a fight – but alcohol can fuel a lot of complicated interpersonal exchanges, and conflicts can and do erupt with regularity. If you want to get out of the situation without exchanging blows that could potentially lead to...
Protecting Your Rights Throughout Eastern Iowa Since 1981
Criminal Defense
3 ways a minor in possession charge can affect your teen’s future
Alcohol laws in the United States are designed to regulate the sale, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in order to maintain public safety and prevent alcohol-related harm. In Iowa, alcohol consumption and possession by minors can result in a minor in...
What should you do about a tailgater?
When someone is tailgating your vehicle, it can be fairly nerve-racking. You know that they are drastically increasing the odds that you will be involved in a rear-end accident in which you could be injured. They are driving negligently and putting you – not just...
What college students should know about campus police
Whether your child will be starting or is already going to college close to home here in Iowa or at an out-of-state school, you hope their only contact with campus police officers is when they need to ask for directions. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many...
Peer pressure could lead to underage drinking
All high school students and many college students are not old enough to drink. They need to be 21 years old, and drinking underage is generally illegal. There are some situations in which parents can authorize it, but minors are not allowed to buy alcohol or possess...
How stealing this one drug lands you enhanced criminal penalties
Pseudoephedrine, more popularly known under the brand name Sudafed, is a stimulant drug typically used as a decongestant. It works by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation. As a stimulant, it also sees off-label use among truck drivers to keep...
Is secretly taking a video of your neighbor a crime?
Vlogging has become incredibly popular in recent years thanks to video hosting platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Whether it’s about travel, food or fashion, vlogs can be about almost anything, and there will always be an audience for one topic or another. But some...
Is someone accusing you of date rape?
After spending a wonderful romantic evening with someone you love, it is only natural that you cannot wait to see them again. However, things can take a turn for the worse. The person you had the most fantastic evening with is suddenly accusing you of date rape. Date...
Harsher penalties for anyone stealing from older individuals
Let’s say you’re out for a drink or two with friends one night. You all meet at a local establishment and sit at the front bar, where the only other customer is an older gentleman. A couple of hours later, the older gentleman pays for his drink and leaves. You notice...
Over 50% of underage drinkers in Iowa start at 15 years old
Teenagers are at a phase where they crave independence and want to start being treated like an adult. With the prevalence of underage drinking, your teens may see their friends drinking alcohol and become curious about it themselves. Some parents even let their teens...