Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 709.15 (2026)

Sexual exploitation by counselor, therapist, school employee, or adult providing training or instruction

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. As used in this section: a. “Adult providing training or instruction” means an adult who is not a school employee who provides paid training or instruction to a minor outside of a school setting. For purposes of this paragraph, “adult” is a person age eighteen years or older who is four or more years older than the minor receiving training or instruction. b. “Counselor or therapist” means a physician, psychologist, nurse, professional counselor, social worker, marriage or family therapist, alcohol or drug counselor, member of the clergy, or any other person, whether or not licensed or registered by the state, who provides or purports to provide mental health services.\n\nTue Dec 09 21:56:35 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 709 (44, 1) §709.15, SEXUAL ABUSE 8\n\n c. “Emotionally dependent” means that the nature of the patient’s or client’s or former patient’s or client’s emotional condition or the nature of the treatment provided by the counselor or therapist is such that the counselor or therapist knows or has reason to know that the patient or client or former patient or client is significantly impaired in the ability to withhold consent to sexual conduct, as described in subsection 2, by the counselor or therapist. For the purposes of subsection 2, a former patient or client is presumed to be emotionally dependent for one year following the termination of the provision of mental health services. d. “Former patient or client” means a person who received mental health services from the counselor or therapist. e. “Mental health service” means the treatment, assessment, or counseling of another person for a cognitive, behavioral, emotional, mental, or social dysfunction, including an intrapersonal or interpersonal dysfunction. f. “Patient or client” means a person who receives mental health services from the counselor or therapist. g. (1) “School employee” means any of the following, except as provided in subparagraph (2): (a) A person who holds a license, certificate, or statement of professional recognition issued under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3. (b) A person who holds an authorization issued under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3. (c) A person employed by a school district full-time, part-time, or as a substitute. (d) A person who performs services as a volunteer for a school district and who has direct supervisory authority over the student with whom the person engages in conduct prohibited under subsection 3, paragraph “a”. (e) A person who provides services under a contract for such services to a school district and who has direct supervisory authority over the student with whom the person engages in conduct prohibited under subsection 3, paragraph “a”. (f) A person employed by a community college full-time, part-time, or as a substitute who provides instruction to high school students under a sharing or concurrent enrollment program offered in accordance with section 257.11 or 261E.8. (2) “School employee” does not include a student enrolled in the school district. h. “Student” means a person who is currently enrolled in or attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, or who was a student enrolled in or who attended a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school within thirty days of any violation of subsection 3. 2. a. Sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist occurs when any of the following are found: (1) A pattern or practice or scheme of conduct to engage in any of the conduct described in subparagraph (2) or (3). (2) Any sexual conduct with an emotionally dependent patient or client or emotionally dependent former patient or client for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the counselor or therapist or the emotionally dependent patient or client or emotionally dependent former patient or client. Sexual conduct includes but is not limited to the following: (a) Kissing. (b) Touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals. (c) A sex act as defined in section 702.17. (3) Any sexual conduct with a patient or client or former patient or client within one year of the termination of the provision of mental health services by the counselor or therapist for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the counselor or therapist or the patient or client or former patient or client. Sexual conduct includes but is not limited to the following: (a) Kissing. (b) Touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals.

Tue Dec 09 21:56:35 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 709 (44, 1) 9 SEXUAL ABUSE, §709.15\n\n (c) A sex act as defined in section 702.17. b. Sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist does not include touching which is part of a necessary examination or treatment provided a patient or client by a counselor or therapist acting within the scope of the practice or employment in which the counselor or therapist is engaged. 3. a. Sexual exploitation by a school employee occurs when any of the following are found: (1) A pattern or practice or scheme of conduct to engage in any of the conduct described in subparagraph (2). (2) Any sexual conduct with a student for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the school employee or the student. Sexual conduct includes but is not limited to the following: (a) Kissing. (b) Touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals. (c) A sex act as defined in section 702.17. b. Sexual exploitation by a school employee does not include touching that is necessary in the performance of the school employee’s duties while acting within the scope of employment. c. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to a person who is employed by a school district attendance center if the student with whom the person engages in conduct prohibited under subsection 3, paragraph “a”, is not enrolled in the same school district attendance center that employs the person, the person does not have direct supervisory authority over the student, and the person does not meet the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “g”, subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a). 4. a. Sexual exploitation by an adult providing training or instruction occurs when any of the following are found: (1) A pattern or practice or scheme of conduct to engage in any of the conduct described in subparagraph (2). (2) Any sexual conduct with a minor for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the adult providing training or instruction or of the minor. Sexual conduct includes but is not limited to the following: (a) Kissing. (b) Touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals. (c) A sex act as defined in section 702.17. b. Sexual exploitation by an adult providing training or instruction does not include touching that is necessary in the performance of the adult’s duties while providing training or instruction. c. This subsection only applies to an offense under paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), which occurs within the period of time the adult providing training or instruction is receiving payment for the training or instruction and to an offense under paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), which occurs within the period of time the adult providing training or instruction is receiving payment for the training or instruction or within thirty days after any such period of training or instruction. 5. a. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 2, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), commits a class “D” felony. b. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 2, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), commits an aggravated misdemeanor. c. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 2, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (3), commits a serious misdemeanor. In lieu of the sentence provided for under section 903.1, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, the offender may be required to attend a sexual abuser treatment program. 6. a. A school employee who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 3, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), commits a class “D” felony. b. A school employee who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 3, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), commits an aggravated misdemeanor.

Tue Dec 09 21:56:35 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 709 (44, 1) §709.15, SEXUAL ABUSE 10\n\n 7. a. An adult providing training or instruction who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 4, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1), commits a class “D” felony. b. An adult providing training or instruction who commits sexual exploitation in violation of subsection 4, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), commits an aggravated misdemeanor. 91 Acts, ch 130, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1163, §119; 92 Acts, ch 1199, §2 – 6; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §65; 2004 Acts, ch 1086, §102; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §230; 2014 Acts, ch 1114, §1, 2; 2016 Acts, ch 1066, §6; 2017 Acts, ch 127, §1, 2; 2019 Acts, ch 59, §225, 226; 2019 Acts, ch 164, §9; 2020 Acts, ch 1063, §374; 2021 Acts, ch 102, §5 – 7; 2022 Acts, ch 1032, §102; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2601 Referred to in §256.146, 614.1, 622.31B, 692A.102, 702.11, 709.19, 802.2A, 903B.10

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 33 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1997–2024 · leading case: State of Iowa v. Patrick Edouard, 854 N.W.2d 421 (Iowa 2014).

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State of Iowa v. Patrick Edouard, 854 N.W.2d 421 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 30× “See Iowa Code § 709.15 (2)(a), (c) (2013).1 The pastor appealed, contending: (1) the district court failed to properly instruct the jury on the sexual exploitation statute; (2) the district court abused its discretion in excluding expert testimony concerning differences between…”

State of Iowa v. Brent Michael Romer, 832 N.W.2d 169 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 25× “Iowa Code § 709.15 (3) (2009).2 The district court found that there is no requirement in Iowa Code section 709.”

Doe v. Hartz, 970 F. Supp. 1375 (N.D. Iowa 1997). · cites it 35× “Doe alleges that Father Hartz’s conduct constituted sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist within the meaning of Iowa Code § 709.15 , establishing a predicate felony crime of violence under the federal statute.”

State of Iowa v. Bradley Elroy Wickes, 910 N.W.2d 554 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 709.15 (3)( a )(1-2). Iowa Code section 702.”

Doe v. Hartz, 52 F. Supp. 2d 1027 (N.D. Iowa 1999). · cites it 9× “15, asserting that the acts alleged fit within the definition of “sexual exploitation” found in Iowa Code § 709.15 (l)(f)(3), while Father Hartz, as á priest, falls within the statutory definition of a “counselor or therapist” by virtue of his role in the church.”

State of Iowa v. Patrick Ryan Nicoletto, 845 N.W.2d 421 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 7× “” Iowa Code § 709.15 (3)(b). The sexual exploitation statute does not contain a definition of “school employee.”

State v. Gonzalez, 718 N.W.2d 304 (Iowa 2006). · cites it 3× “Iowa Code § 709.15 (4)(c). Section 709.15(2)(c) provides such a violation occurs when there is “[a]ny sexual conduct with a patient or client .”

In the Interest of J.c, Minor Child. D.C., Father, 857 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 2× “1114, § 1 (to be codified at Iowa Code § 709.15 (f)); In re Det. of Geltz, 840 N.”

Gerald Johnson v. Mike Moody, 903 F.3d 766 (8th Cir. 2018). “See Iowa Code §§ 709.15 (3)(a)(1), (5)(a), 709.”

State v. McKenzie-Adams, 915 A.2d 822 (Conn. 2007). “§ 5-14-125 (a) (6) (Michie 2006); Iowa Code Ann. § 709.15 (3) (West Sup. 2006); Kan.”

State of Iowa v. Patrick Ryan Nicoletto, 862 N.W.2d 621 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 2× “1114, § 1 (codified at Iowa Code § 709.15 (1)(f) (2015)). After reversal of his conviction, Nicoletto filed an application requesting the district court enter an order finding Nicoletto is a “wrongfully imprisoned person” who is entitled to compensation from the State under Iowa…”

State v. Allen, 565 N.W.2d 333 (Iowa 1997). “Iowa Code § 709.15 (l)(a). “Mental health service” is defined as the treatment, assessment, or counseling of another person for a cognitive, behavioral, emotional, mental, or social dysfunction, including an intrapersonal or interpersonal dysfunction.”

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