Iowa criminal charge
Interference with official acts in Iowa
Interference with official acts is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 719.1. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 719.1.
How is interference with official acts classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interference with official acts — base offense | Simple Misdemeanor | A person knowingly resists or obstructs a peace officer, jailer, EMS provider, medical examiner, fire fighter, bailiff, or service/execution of civil or criminal process, with no resulting injury. | Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(b) |
| Interference with official acts — bodily injury results | Serious Misdemeanor | The interference as defined in subsection (1) results in bodily injury. | Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(c) |
| Interference with official acts — serious injury results | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The interference as defined in subsection (1) results in serious injury. | Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(d) |
| Interference with official acts — inflicts bodily injury (other than serious) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The person inflicts bodily injury other than serious injury while committing the interference defined in subsection (1). | Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(e) |
| Interference with official acts — serious injury, attempted serious injury, or armed | Class “D” Felony | The person inflicts or attempts to inflict serious injury, displays a dangerous weapon, or is armed with a firearm while committing the interference defined in subsection (1). | Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(f) |
| Interference with correctional official — base offense | Serious Misdemeanor | A person under DOC custody, control, or supervision knowingly resists, obstructs, or interferes with a correctional officer, agent, employee, or contractor performing official duties. | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(b) |
| Interference with correctional official — assault committed | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The person commits an assault, as defined in section 708.1, while violating subsection (2). | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(c) |
| Interference with correctional official — bodily injury results | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The violation of subsection (2) results in bodily injury to another. | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(d) |
| Interference with correctional official — serious injury results | Class “D” Felony | The violation of subsection (2) results in serious injury to another. | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(e) |
| Interference with correctional official — bodily injury inflicted or armed | Class “D” Felony | The person inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury other than serious injury, displays a dangerous weapon, or is armed with a firearm while violating subsection (2). | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(f) |
| Interference with correctional official — dangerous weapon used or serious injury inflicted | Class “C” Felony | The person uses or attempts to use a dangerous weapon, or inflicts serious injury to another, while violating subsection (2). | Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(g) |
Common questions about interference with official acts in Iowa
Is interference with official acts a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: interference with official acts ranges from a Simple Misdemeanor to a Class “C” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 719.1.
Interference with official acts — base offense: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(b)) · Interference with official acts — bodily injury results: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(c)) · Interference with official acts — serious injury results: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(d)) · Interference with official acts — inflicts bodily injury (other than serious): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(e)) · Interference with official acts — serious injury, attempted serious injury, or armed: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 719.1(1)(f)) · Interference with correctional official — base offense: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(b)) · Interference with correctional official — assault committed: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(c)) · Interference with correctional official — bodily injury results: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(d)) · Interference with correctional official — serious injury results: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(e)) · Interference with correctional official — bodily injury inflicted or armed: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(f)) · Interference with correctional official — dangerous weapon used or serious injury inflicted: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 719.1(2)(g))
Which Iowa statute covers interference with official acts?
Interference with official acts is governed by Iowa Code § 719.1 (Interference with official acts).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.