Iowa City Criminal Defense Law Blog

Being accused of a crime is never any easy predicament to be in. This is especially true when the accused is facing a felony charge. With regards to drug crimes, the penalties associated with a drug charge could be severe, as a felony charge likely involves large quantitates of an illegal substance or an act that is severe itself.

What are the penalties for felony drug charges in Iowa? In order to face a class B felony for drug possession in the state of Iowa, which results in a penalty of not more than 50 years in prison and a fine not greater than $1,00,000, one must possess a certain amount of each drug type. This includes more than 10 grams of LSD, more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, more than 500 grams of cocaine, greater than 100 grams of PCP pure, more than 1 kilogram of PCP mixed, more than 1 kilogram of heroin, greater than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than 5 kilo grams of methamphetamine amphetamine.

Iowans get in uncomfortable situations from time to time. But, not everyone finds him or herself in situations that threaten their safety and wellbeing. When an individual believes that his or her safety is compromised, he or she may take steps to ensure their safety. This might mean defending themselves through physical conduct. These matters are not always clear as self-defense is not always available in every situation a person feels threatened. Even if an individual believes they properly executed self-defense, this could still result in criminal charges.

Self-defense is an accepted principle that essentially explains when a person can protect themselves from harm under the appropriate circumstances. This means that a person could be excused from behavior that would usually be deemed criminal if it was executed to protect him or herself from imminent physical harm. Though, one must prove that self-defense was, in fact, appropriate under the circumstances.

Being arrested is a serious situation, not matter the allegations. Whether it is a person's first criminal charge or not, this is a serious situation that should be treated as such. The emotions and concerns surrounding the matter can be overwhelming, causing some to not take immediate or proactive measures; however, no matter the charges or the evidence used against the accused, it is possible to initiate a criminal defense action.

According to recent reports, a man from Mason City was charged with felony theft. Preliminary reports indicate that the 22-year-old male was accused of possessing stolen property prior to transferring that property to a friend. Authorities reported that this friend then attempted to pawn the property.

When law enforcement suspects that a crime is being committed, evidence is needed to prove such suspicions. In some cases, these might be observations; however, in most cases, a search will need to be conducted to prove one or more elements of a crime. When a search is conducted, though, there are standards are rules that need to be followed.

What is an illegal search and seizure? To begin, it is important to understand when an investigation can turn into a search. First, one must ask whether the person whose home or property are being investigated or searched expect a certain degree of privacy. Next, one must act if this expectation of privacy is reasonable. If the answers to these two questions are yes, then a search is being conducted. If an investigation has impinged or intruded a person's legitimate expectation of privacy, then a search is being conducted.