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Jury exonerates man of sexual abuse allegation from 20 years ago

August 3, 2022

HAMILTON COUNTY – Client was charged with Sex Abuse in the Second Degree based on an allegation claimed to have occurred 17 years prior. After being initially charged, the Assistant County Attorney who was handling the case filed a Motion to Dismiss the case. Before the motion could be granted by the Court, the head County Attorney, who was personally affiliated with the complaining witnesses father, withdrew the Motion to Dismiss. Months later the case was turned over to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to continue with the prosecution. Three years after the charge was brought against him, the...

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Drug Charge Dismissed After GRL Challenges Marijuana Identification

August 3, 2022

GRL recently put its knowledge of drug identification procedures to the test in a case involving alleged THC vape liquid. Police seized a vape cart during a traffic stop. Field testing of the liquid extract showed a positive color change indicating the possible presence of marijuana. Frequent readers of the GRL Law blog know that field testing can mistake CBD for marijuana. We've discussed this phenomenon here. This is where things get interesting. Police didn't send the cart to the state crime lab. Instead, they sent it to a local department that employs an officer with training in marijuana identification. The officer's verdict...

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Officer Still Doesn't Understand Need to Turn on Squad Car Video

August 1, 2022

Greenfield, Adair County, Iowa. For the second time this year, a Judge ruled that an Adair County Deputy's stop of a motorist was constitutionally invalid when he followed GRL's client for miles, claiming that the vehicle weaved within its lane but mysteriously failed to activate his in-car video camera. The Constitution requires that for an officer to validly stop a motorist, he/she must first have a identifiable traffic offense or reason to believe the individual was engaged in criminal activity. The Adair County Deputy has a history of following motorists for miles and then claiming that they weaved within...

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