Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 720.4 (2026)

Tampering with witnesses, jurors, or reporting parties

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. As used in this section:

a. “Juror” means the same as defined in section 607A.3, subsection 5.

b. “Reporting party” means a person who does either of the following:

(1) Reports or attempts to report a public offense to any fire department, law enforcement agency, emergency communications center, or other public safety entity.

(2) Assists or attempts to assist a law enforcement agency or a prosecuting agency in any criminal investigation or judicial proceeding.\n\nTue Dec 09 21:55:47 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 720 (17, 0) §720.4, INTERFERENCE WITH JUDICIAL PROCESS 2\n\n c. “Tampering” includes any of the following acts committed against a witness, juror, or reporting party:

(1) Bribery or an attempt to bribe.

(2) Threats.

(3) Forcible or fraudulent detaining or restraining.

(4) Harassment as described in section 708.7, subsection 1.

(5) Assault as described in section 708.1, subsection 2.

(6) Any other public offense.

d. “Witness” means a person who is summoned to testify in any judicial proceeding, arbitration, or legislative hearing, or who is listed in the minutes of evidence as provided in rule of criminal procedure 2.4 or 2.5.

2. A person shall not do any of the following:

a. With the intent to improperly influence the testimony of an individual that the person believes is or may be a witness, to prevent such individual from testifying, to encourage such individual to disobey or avoid a subpoena or other legal process, or to encourage such individual to withhold evidence, information, or documents, or in retaliation for anything lawfully done by such an individual, tamper with a witness.

b. With the intent to improperly influence the decision of any individual that the person believes is or may be a juror, to prevent such individual from serving in a judicial proceeding, or in retaliation for anything lawfully done by such individual, tamper with a juror.

c. With the intent to improperly influence the statements of an individual that the person believes is or may be a reporting party, to prevent such individual from becoming a reporting party, to encourage such individual to disobey or avoid a subpoena or other legal process, or to encourage such individual to withhold evidence, information, or documents, or in retaliation for anything lawfully done by such an individual, tamper with a reporting party.

3. A person who tampers with a witness, juror, or reporting party, as described in subsection 2, commits a public offense that shall be classified and punished as an offense one degree higher than the underlying offense, not to exceed a class “C” felony, but in no case shall the public offense be classified and punished lower than an aggravated misdemeanor. [C51, §2646, 2652, 2654; R60, §4273, 4279, 4281; C73, §3938, 3944, 3946; C97, §4874, 4880, 4882; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13167, 13172, 13297; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §721.3, 723.1, 739.6; C79, 81, §720.4] 2024 Acts, ch 1133, §1 Referred to in §723A.1 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 31 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1981–2025 · leading case: State v. Baker, 688 N.W.2d 250 (Iowa 2004).

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State v. Baker, 688 N.W.2d 250 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 80× “" Iowa Code § 720.4 . Prior to trial, Baker filed an application for adjudication of law points, claiming section 720.”

State v. LaPointe, 418 N.W.2d 49 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 32× “Defendant was eventually charged with four counts, including tampering with a witness, Iowa Code § 720.4 . He now contends that the trial court erred in failing to sustain his motion for acquittal on the count of tampering with a witness.”

State v. Halleck, 308 N.W.2d 56 (Iowa 1981). · cites it 20× “Halleck appeals from his conviction, after trial to the court, of tampering with a witness in violation of section 720.4, The Code 1979. He contends the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction and that the court incorrectly interpreted the statute.”

State v. Reynolds, 670 N.W.2d 405 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 4× “§ 720.4 (tampering with a juror). He now appeals, claiming there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding of personal contact of a harassing nature, a required element in both crimes.”

State v. Bartilson, 382 N.W.2d 479 (Iowa Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 8× “Defendant appeals from his conviction of tampering with a witness or juror in violation of Iowa Code section 720.4 (1983). He asserts that his conviction was not supported by substantial evidence.”

Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Bd. Vs. John W. Gailey, 790 N.W.2d 801 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 2× “On July 24 the state charged Gailey with tampering with a witness in violation of Iowa Code section 720.4 (2007). That charge was dismissed due to the state’s failure to file a timely trial information.”

Woods v. Young, 732 N.W.2d 39 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 4× “However, Woods alleged she was terminated from her employment contrary to the public policy as derived from a criminal statute, Iowa Code section 720.4, prohibiting tampering with a witness.”

State v. Jason, 779 N.W.2d 66 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “11(3)(b) (2007), and tampering with a witness, an aggravated misdemeanor, in violation of section 720.4. Jason filed a written arraignment and plea of not guilty on April 19, 2007.”

In the Interest of C.T., 521 N.W.2d 754 (Iowa 1994). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code §§ 720.4 , 723A.2 (1993). C.T. does not challenge the finding that he was guilty of tampering with a witness.”

State v. Welborn, 443 N.W.2d 72 (Iowa Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 6× “Tampering with a witness is prohibited by Iowa Code section 720.4 (1987), which provides: *74 A person who offers any bribe to any person who the offeror believes has been or may be summoned as a witness or a juror in any judicial or arbitration proceeding, or any legislative…”

Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. Lapointe, 415 N.W.2d 617 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 2× “The court found La-pointe guilty of assault causing bodily injury, in violation of Iowa Code section 708.”

Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Ass'n v. Halleck, 325 N.W.2d 117 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 2× “Halleck’s conviction and sentence for tampering with a witness in violation of section 720.4 of the Iowa Code (1981). The evidence in the criminal case showed that respondent improperly sought to influence the testimony of a witness against respondent’s client on a theft charge…”

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