1. In a criminal prosecution in which a defendant has been charged with sexual abuse, evidence of the defendant’s commission of another sexual abuse is admissible and may be considered for its bearing on any matter for which the evidence is relevant. This evidence, though relevant, may be excluded if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. This evidence is not admissible unless the state presents clear proof of the commission of the prior act of sexual abuse.
2. If the prosecution intends to offer evidence pursuant to this section, the prosecution shall disclose such evidence to the defendant, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony that is expected to be offered, ten days prior to the scheduled date of trial. The court may for good cause shown permit disclosure less than ten days prior to the scheduled date of trial.
3. For purposes of this section, “sexual abuse” means any commission of or conviction for a crime defined in chapter 709. “Sexual abuse” also means any commission of or conviction\n\nTue Dec 09 21:56:49 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 701 (21, 0) 3 GENERAL CRIMINAL LAW PROVISIONS, §701.13\n\nfor a crime in another jurisdiction under a statute that is substantially similar to any crime defined in chapter 709. 2003 Acts, ch 132, §1 \n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
25
cases (
12 in the last 5 years), 2008–2025 · leading case:
State v. Cox, 781 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 2010).
State v. Cox, 781 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 2010).
· cites it 52× “Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Section 701.11 appears to allow introduction of prior sexual abuse without limiting such evidence to the specific categories in Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.”
State v. Reyes, 744 N.W.2d 95 (Iowa 2008).
· cites it 36× “Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Under Iowa law, section 701.”
State of Iowa v. Mark Daryl Becker, 818 N.W.2d 135 (Iowa 2012).
· cites it 8× “In Reyes, we addressed whether a defendant’s claim that Iowa Code section 701.11, which made evidence of prior sexual assaults involving the same victim admissible in sexual abuse prosecutions, violated a defendant’s procedural due process rights.”
State v. DeJesus, 953 A.2d 45 (Conn. 2008).
· cites it 2× “§ 35-37-4-15 (Michie 1998); Iowa Code Ann. § 701.11 (West Sup. 2008); La.”
State Of Iowa Vs. Matthew Earl Cox (Iowa 2010).
· cites it 50× “Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Section 701.11 appears to allow introduction of prior sexual abuse without limiting such evidence to the specific categories in Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.”
State v. Boysaw, 372 P.3d 1261 (Kan. Ct. App. 2016).
“2d 757, 761 (Iowa 2010) (quoting Iowa Code § 701.11 [1]). The Iowa court noted the general prohibition of propensity evidence was “firmly established in Iowa courts at common law.”
State of Iowa v. Chad Allen Staton (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
· cites it 16× “Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). This statute allows the prosecution to introduce the relevant history of the defendant with the same victim.”
State of Iowa v. Mathurin Pettit (Iowa Ct. App. 2024).
· cites it 16× “” Iowa Code § 701.11 (2). The district court found good cause for not giving notice because the State did not know about this incident before A.”
Sean Ryan Sheets v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 16× “Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Section 701.11(3) further states, “For purposes of this section, ‘sexual abuse’ means any commission of or conviction for a crime defined in chapter 709.”
State of Iowa v. Keith Michael Moss (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
· cites it 12× “” Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). On this issue, Moss simply argues the “court failed to perform the necessary Iowa Code section 701.”
— Iowa Code § 701.11(1) — 6 cases
State v. Reyes, 744 N.W.2d 95 (Iowa 2008).
“Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Under Iowa law, section 701.”
State of Iowa v. Keith Michael Moss (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
“” Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). On this issue, Moss simply argues the “court failed to perform the necessary Iowa Code section 701.”
— Iowa Code § 701.11(2) — 2 cases
State v. Reyes, 744 N.W.2d 95 (Iowa 2008).
“Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Under Iowa law, section 701.”
— Iowa Code § 701.11(3) — 1 case
Sean Ryan Sheets v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“Iowa Code § 701.11 (1). Section 701.11(3) further states, “For purposes of this section, ‘sexual abuse’ means any commission of or conviction for a crime defined in chapter 709.”
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