Iowa City Criminal Defense Law Blog

With regards to criminal law, intent is often looked at when considering whether the accused is guilty of a crime. But what if a crime was not completed? Does this mean no criminal charges can follow? With regards to attempted crimes, this likely occurs when an individual fails to complete the crime. However, in order for an attempted crime to occur, the accused must have had the intent to commit the supposed crime.

A criminal charge related to a person's attempt to commit a crime is based on a person's specific intent. This means that the accused must have the intent to commit a crime and has taken direct action toward the completion of the crime. Additionally, attempted crimes are typically incomplete. This means that the prosecution must prove that the accused had the intent to complete or commit the crime.

When individuals think of criminal charges, they likely think of DUIs, drug charges and violent crimes such as assault and battery. There are some crimes that are not often discussed, however, this does not mean that these crimes do not affect individuals as victims and accused offenders. Take human trafficking for example. Residents in Iowa and elsewhere might view this as a crime of the past, but this crime still impacts individuals across the nation, resulting in serious criminal charges against defendants.

While slavery and involuntary servitude were eliminated with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, individuals are still being forced into service or labor and held against their will. Modern human trafficking impacts vulnerable populations, including minors and undocumented immigrants, the most and usually involves sex trade.

Being accused of a crime does not mean that a defendant is aware of what the crime means and the severity of the penalties associated with it. The world of criminal law is complex, meaning the charges faced by some could be confusing. Therefore, it is not only important for individuals in Iowa and elsewhere to understand the alleged crime in general, but what evidence is used to prove the elements of the crime.

Take extortion for example. This crime occurs when a person does an act with the purpose of obtaining anything of value, tangible or intangible. This includes carrying out acts such as threatening to inflict physical injury, making a threat to accuse another individual of committing a public offense or the threat of exposure to contempt, hatred or ridicule.

While there is a time and place to legally use some weapons, there are also times where its usage could result in criminal charges. Disputes can break out, causing one to react to threats or be the one doing the threatening. Being accused of a violent crime could tarnish a person's reputation, even harming his or her relationship with family members and the community.

According to recent reports, an Iowa City man is currently facing criminal charges stemming from a dispute that took place in December. Police indicated that the man was allegedly threatening people with a knife during a dispute. Complaints came into law enforcement during the early afternoon hours, claiming that there was a fight in progress.