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House File 237 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to tampering with witnesses or jurors, and
2providing penalties.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 720.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
2follows:
3720.4 Tampering with witnesses or jurors.
4A person who offers any bribe to any person who the offeror
5believes has been or may be summoned as a witness or juror in
6any judicial or arbitration proceeding, or any legislative
7hearing, or who makes any threats toward such person or who
8forcibly or fraudulently detains or restrains such person, with
9the intent to improperly influence such witness or juror with
10respect to the witness’ or juror’s testimony or decision in
11such case, or to prevent such person from testifying or serving
12in such case, or who, in retaliation for anything lawfully done
13by any witness or juror in any case, harasses such witness or
14juror, commits an aggravated misdemeanor a class “C” felony.
15EXPLANATION
16The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
17the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
18This bill relates to tampering with witnesses or jurors.
19Current law provides that a person who offers a bribe,
20makes threats, or improperly detains or restrains another
21person who the person believes has been or will be summoned as
22a witness or juror in any judicial or arbitration proceeding
23or legislative hearing for the purpose of influencing or
24preventing the other person’s testimony or preventing the
25other person from serving as a juror on the case, commits an
26aggravated misdemeanor. The bill increases the penalty for
27tampering with a witness or juror to a class “C” felony.
28An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for
29no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more
30than $8,540. A class “C” felony is punishable by confinement
31for no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,370 but not
32more than $13,660.
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2providing penalties.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 720.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
2follows:
3720.4 Tampering with witnesses or jurors.
4A person who offers any bribe to any person who the offeror
5believes has been or may be summoned as a witness or juror in
6any judicial or arbitration proceeding, or any legislative
7hearing, or who makes any threats toward such person or who
8forcibly or fraudulently detains or restrains such person, with
9the intent to improperly influence such witness or juror with
10respect to the witness’ or juror’s testimony or decision in
11such case, or to prevent such person from testifying or serving
12in such case, or who, in retaliation for anything lawfully done
13by any witness or juror in any case, harasses such witness or
14juror, commits an aggravated misdemeanor a class “C” felony.
15EXPLANATION
16The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
17the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
18This bill relates to tampering with witnesses or jurors.
19Current law provides that a person who offers a bribe,
20makes threats, or improperly detains or restrains another
21person who the person believes has been or will be summoned as
22a witness or juror in any judicial or arbitration proceeding
23or legislative hearing for the purpose of influencing or
24preventing the other person’s testimony or preventing the
25other person from serving as a juror on the case, commits an
26aggravated misdemeanor. The bill increases the penalty for
27tampering with a witness or juror to a class “C” felony.
28An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for
29no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more
30than $8,540. A class “C” felony is punishable by confinement
31for no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,370 but not
32more than $13,660.
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