Iowa criminal charge
Sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction in Iowa
Sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 709.15. 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 § 709.15.
What is the penalty for sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Counselor/therapist — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — A counselor or therapist engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct as described in subsection 2(a)(2) or (3).; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Counselor/therapist — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — A counselor or therapist engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct as described in subsection 2(a)(2) or (3).; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with emotionally dependent patient/client — A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with an emotionally dependent patient, client, or former patient/client for sexual gratification purposes.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with emotionally dependent patient/client — A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with an emotionally dependent patient, client, or former patient/client for sexual gratification purposes.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with patient/client within one year of termination — A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with a patient, client, or former patient/client within one year after termination of mental health services, for sexual gratification purposes.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with patient/client within one year of termination — A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with a patient, client, or former patient/client within one year after termination of mental health services, for sexual gratification purposes.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (School employee — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — A school employee engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a student as described in subsection 3(a)(2).; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (School employee — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — A school employee engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a student as described in subsection 3(a)(2).; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (School employee — sexual conduct with student — A school employee engages in sexual conduct with a student for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (School employee — sexual conduct with student — A school employee engages in sexual conduct with a student for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Adult providing training or instruction — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a minor as described in subsection 4(a)(2).; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Adult providing training or instruction — pattern or practice of sexual conduct — An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a minor as described in subsection 4(a)(2).; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Adult providing training or instruction — sexual conduct with minor — An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in sexual conduct with a minor for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, occurring during or within thirty days after the paid training period.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Adult providing training or instruction — sexual conduct with minor — An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in sexual conduct with a minor for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, occurring during or within thirty days after the paid training period.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor/therapist — pattern or practice of sexual conduct | Class “D” Felony | A counselor or therapist engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct as described in subsection 2(a)(2) or (3). | Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(a) |
| Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with emotionally dependent patient/client | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with an emotionally dependent patient, client, or former patient/client for sexual gratification purposes. | Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(b) |
| Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with patient/client within one year of termination | Serious Misdemeanor | A counselor or therapist engages in sexual conduct with a patient, client, or former patient/client within one year after termination of mental health services, for sexual gratification purposes. | Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(c) |
| School employee — pattern or practice of sexual conduct | Class “D” Felony | A school employee engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a student as described in subsection 3(a)(2). | Iowa Code § 709.15(6)(a) |
| School employee — sexual conduct with student | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A school employee engages in sexual conduct with a student for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires. | Iowa Code § 709.15(6)(b) |
| Adult providing training or instruction — pattern or practice of sexual conduct | Class “D” Felony | An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in a pattern or practice or scheme of conduct involving sexual conduct with a minor as described in subsection 4(a)(2). | Iowa Code § 709.15(7)(a) |
| Adult providing training or instruction — sexual conduct with minor | Aggravated Misdemeanor | An adult providing paid training or instruction engages in sexual conduct with a minor for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires, occurring during or within thirty days after the paid training period. | Iowa Code § 709.15(7)(b) |
Common questions about sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction in Iowa
Is sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “D” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 709.15.
Counselor/therapist — pattern or practice of sexual conduct: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(a)) · Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with emotionally dependent patient/client: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(b)) · Counselor/therapist — sexual conduct with patient/client within one year of termination: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 709.15(5)(c)) · School employee — pattern or practice of sexual conduct: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 709.15(6)(a)) · School employee — sexual conduct with student: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 709.15(6)(b)) · Adult providing training or instruction — pattern or practice of sexual conduct: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 709.15(7)(a)) · Adult providing training or instruction — sexual conduct with minor: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 709.15(7)(b))
What are the penalties for sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction in Iowa?
Penalties for sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction in Iowa depend on how it is classified — from a Serious Misdemeanor up to a Class “D” Felony — with the ranges set by Iowa Code § 902.9 and Iowa Code § 903.1; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Iowa statute covers sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction?
Sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction is governed by Iowa Code § 709.15 (Sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction).
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.