by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe crime of Impersonating a Public Official in Iowa is defined by Iowa Code Section 718.2 as follows:
Any person who falsely claims to be or assumes to act as an elected or appointed officer, magistrate, peace officer, or person authorized to act on behalf of the state or any subdivision thereof, having no authority to do so, commits an aggravated misdemeanor.
Impersonating a Public Official in Iowa is an Aggravated Misdemeanor, meaning that the maximum penalty is 2 years in prison. Iowa Aggravated Misdemeanor convictions, including Impersonating a Public Official, are treated as Felony convictions by other states and the Federal government, due to the fact that a person who is convicted could be imprisoned for more than 1 year. As such, the Iowa crime of Impersonating a Public Official is a serious one that is important to handle properly.