by Attorney Eric D. PuryearIowa Code Section 725.3 defines the crime of Pandering. Pandering is a D felony, or even a C felony when the person who engages in prostitution is a minor.
The D felony version of pandering in Iowa is defined as follows:
A person who persuades, arranges, coerces, or otherwise causes another, not a minor, to become a prostitute or to return to the practice of prostitution after having abandoned it, or keeps or maintains any premises for the purposes of prostitution or takes a share in the income from such premises knowing the character and content of such income, commits a class “D” felony.
The C felony version of pandering in Iowa is defined as follows:
A person who persuades, arranges, coerces, or otherwise causes a minor to become a prostitute or to return to the practice of prostitution after having abandoned it, or keeps or maintains any premises for the purpose of prostitution involving minors or knowingly shares in the income from such premises knowing the character and content of such income, commits a class “C” felony.
In Iowa, Class D felonies like Pandering are punishable by 5 years in prison, or probation, a fine, or time in the county jail. The Class C felony version of Pandering is punishable by 10 years in prison. In addition to the criminal consequences of a conviction for Pandering, there can be significant other effects upon a person who is convicted. As an example, a conviction for Pandering can cause problems in terms of employment, housing, etc.
For each of those reasons, a charge of Pandering in Iowa is a serious matter. Properly handling a Pandering charge the right way can be the difference between a favorable outcome or an unfavorable outcome, and for that reason any person with such a charge is well advised to seek an attorney at once.