Attorney's Note

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class C felonyup to 10 yearsbetween $1,370 and $13,660
Class D felonyup to 5 yearsbetween $1,025 and $10,245
Aggravated misdemeanorup to 2 yearsbetween $855 and $8,540
Serious misdemeanorup to 1 yearbetween $430 and $2,560
Simple misdemeanorup to 30 daysbetween $105 and $855
For details, see Iowa Code902.9 and Iowa Code§ 903.1

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Terms Used In Iowa Code 726.26

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
726.26 Dependent adult abuse — initiation of charges — penalty.
1. For the purposes of this section, “”caretaker””, “”dependent adult””, and “”dependent adult abuse”” mean the same as defined in § 235B.2.
2. A charge of dependent adult abuse may be initiated upon the complaint of a private individual, as a result of an investigation by a social service agency, or on the direct initiative of the office of the attorney general, a county attorney, or a law enforcement agency.
3. A caretaker who intentionally or recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of murder in the second degree in violation of § 707.3 if the intentional or reckless dependent adult abuse results in the death of the dependent adult.
4. A caretaker who intentionally commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “”C””
felony if the intentional dependent adult abuse results in serious injury.
5. A caretaker who recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “”D””
felony if the reckless dependent adult abuse results in serious injury.
6. A caretaker who intentionally commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “”C””
felony if the intentional dependent adult abuse results in physical injury.
7. A caretaker who commits dependent adult abuse by exploitation of a dependent adult is guilty of a class “”D”” felony if the value of the property, assets, or resources exceeds one hundred dollars.
8. A caretaker who recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor if the reckless dependent adult abuse results in physical injury.
9. A caretaker who otherwise intentionally or knowingly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
10. A caretaker who commits dependent adult abuse by exploitation of a dependent adult is guilty of a simple misdemeanor if the value of the property, assets, or resources is one hundred dollars or less.
11. A caretaker alleged to have committed dependent adult abuse shall be charged with the respective offense cited, unless a charge may be brought based upon a more serious offense, in which case the charge of the more serious offense shall supersede the less serious charge.
2022 Acts, ch 1132, §6; 2022 Acts, ch 1153, §47
Referred to in §235E.4, 272C.15, 671A.2