by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Iowa criminal cases, the sentencing judge is instructed by Iowa Code section 901.5 to consider certain guidelines and factors in determining what sentence to impose. This article discusses that sentencing process in Iowa criminal cases.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Iowa code section 123.46 defines the crimes of pblic intoxication as follows.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear On June 22, 2013, just before midnight, Waterloo police responded to a 911 call. In the process of handling that call, they arrested a woman who had stood on her own front porch for public intoxication, after determining that the woman was drunk. The woman was convicted at a trial of public intoxication. On appeal, … Read more
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Under Iowa, possession with intent to deliver marijuana is a felony. Iowa Code Section 124.401 addresses possession with the intent to deliver the controlled substance of marijuana.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In addition to normal laws banning the sale of illegal drugs, Iowa also has a Drug Tax Stamp law that makes it a separate crime to sell illegal drugs without having first purchased a drug tax stamp. Iowa Code Section 453B addresses the tax stamp requirements.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In many drug cases filed by prosecutors in Illinois and Iowa, part of the evidence will be an alleged controlled buy. Such cases can be difficult to defend against, yet also present useful opportunities that can make it easier to fight the case.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In Iowa, a person who possesses cocaine with the intent to deliver it to another person commits a serious felony charge, under Iowa Code Section 124.401. Iowa law provides for harsh penalties for those convicted of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In the state of Illinois, the Controlled Substance Act (720 ILCS 570/200, et seq) prohibits possession of cocaine. Under Illinois law, possession of cocaine is treated very seriously and is always a felony charge. That differs from many states, which have a misdemeanor charge when a small amount of cocaine is possessed for personal use.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Conciliation is part of the Iowa divorce process in some cases. The purpose of conciliation is to attempt to save the marriage by getting the spouses to work out their differences. Iowa code section 598.16 addresses conciliation.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Under Iowa law, those seeking a divorce are subject to a 90 day waiting period. However, the Iowa code allows for waiver of that waiting period under certain narrow circumstances.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Facebook is used by over a billion people every day, and as such it has an important role to play in many divorce, custody, and protective order cases that take place in the states of Iowa and Illinois.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In cases involving children, such as divorce and custody cases, the interactions that occur between the parties that concern the children are quite important. The same is true for protective order cases involving domestic violence allegations, whether or not children are involved.
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Owning one’s own business can be quite rewarding, both from financial and personal satisfaction perspectives. However, it can also be a headache at times, and that is especially true when there are legal disputes surrounding the business. Having the right contracts can go a long way to helping business owners avoid such legal problems, and is truly an area where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Iowa law defines the crime of Lascivious Acts with a Child in Iowa Code section 709.8 as follows:
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Under Iowa Code section 709.15, the crime of Sexual exploitation by a school employee occurs when any of the following are found
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear For those who do not have an Iowa Permit to Carry Weapons, it is crime to improperly carry a gun, knife, or other weapon. Iowa Code Section 724.4 defines the crime of Carrying Weapons as follows:
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear In the state of Illinois, it is a crime to possess drug paraphernalia. 720 ILCS 600/3.5 defines the crime of drug paraphernalia possession as the crime
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Iowa code section 124.414 bans the possession of drug paraphernalia, which is defined as all equipment, products, or materials of any kind used or attempted to be used in combination with a controlled substance
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Iowa bans use or possession of marijuana in Iowa code section 124 et. seq. That law makes it a Serious Misdemeanor
by Attorney Eric D. Puryear Iowa law allows depositions to be taken in criminal cases. That is a powerful tool that can be of great benefit to a criminal defendant in Iowa. Rule 2.13 of the Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure