HF 224 (LSB 2181YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 224

BY  WHEELER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the criminal offense of accessory after the fact if the public offense involves a murder, and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 703.3, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   703.3  Accessory after the fact.
   Any person having knowledge that a public offense has been committed and that a certain person committed it, and who does not stand in the relation of husband or wife to the person who committed the offense, who harbors, aids or conceals the person who committed the offense, with the intent to prevent the apprehension of the person who committed the offense, commits an the following:
   1.  A class “D” felony if the public offense was a violation of section 707.2, 707.3, or 707.3A.
   2.  An aggravated misdemeanor if the public offense committed was a felony, or commits a other than those felonies referred to in subsection 1.
   3.  A simple misdemeanor if the public offense was a misdemeanor.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the criminal offense of accessory after the fact.
   The bill increases the criminal penalty from an aggravated misdemeanor to a class “D” felony for the offense of accessory after the fact if the offense is related to the commission of a murder in violation of Code section 707.2 (murder in the first degree), 707.3 (murder in the second degree), or 707.3A (solicitation to commit murder).
   A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500.