Iowa City Criminal Defense Law Blog

People in Iowa City may believe that criminal defense is the kind of thing that only other people need to worry about. If a person is honest and stays out of trouble, they don't have to worry about such things, right? The truth is, many people find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system unexpectedly. When this happens, it can be very important to have a strong criminal defense strategy.

Not long ago, a previous post here discussed searches and seizures and the rules law enforcement officials must follow in conducting them. If law enforcement officials do not follow the rules and then try to introduce evidence gained from the search and seizure, it may be possible to have the court rule that the evidence is inadmissible. This can happen if the police don't have a proper warrant or if they exceed the scope of the warrant, for example.

It is not uncommon for adults in Iowa and elsewhere to consume alcohol. It is also common for parents across the nation to travel with their children in their vehicle. While both of these tasks are common, this does not mean they go together. In fact, an adult under the influence of alcohol operating a motor vehicle could face serious charges. Even more so, if the accused is operating a vehicle under the influence with minor children in the vehicle, this could increase the severity of the criminal consequences if the motorist is convicted of drunk driving.

According to recent reports, authorities in Osage pulled over a 35-year-old woman in August. Police had purportedly received reports that a vehicle was weaving in and out of lanes on Iowa Highway 9. Law enforcement responded to the call and pulled the driver over. According to preliminary reports, the driver's children were in the vehicle.

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.