Iowa Code » Chapter 723 — PUBLIC DISORDER
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 723.1 (2026)

Riot

✓ current as of July 2026
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A riot is three or more persons assembled together in a violent and disturbing manner, and with any use of unlawful force or violence by them or any of them against another person, or causing property damage. A person who willingly joins in or remains a part of a riot, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it is such, commits a class “D” felony. [C51, §2740, 2741, 2743; R60, §4388, 4389, 4391; C73, §4067, 4068, 4070; C97, §5031, 5032, 5035; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13340, 13341, 13347; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §743.2, 743.3, 743.9; C79, 81, §723.1] 2021 Acts, ch 183, §44, 48 Referred to in §123.56, 657.12, 723.4, 901C.3

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1948–2026 · leading case: Williams v. Osmundson, 281 N.W.2d 622 (Iowa 1979).
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Williams v. Osmundson, 281 N.W.2d 622 (Iowa 1979). · cites it 26× “Plaintiffs sought a writ of certiorari in this court to challenge the district court’s refusal to dismiss riot charges under section 723.1, The Code 1979. We granted a writ.”
State v. Hartung, 30 N.W.2d 491 (Iowa 1948). · cites it 6× “Defendant was charged by county attorney’s information, under section 723.1, Code, 1946, with the crime of interference with the administration of justice.”
State v. Graham, 203 N.W.2d 600 (Iowa 1973). · cites it 7× “The information resultantly filed charged defendant had interfered with the administration of justice in violation of The Code 1971, Section 723.1. Errors urged on appeal are, trial court erred in (1) holding the evidence, as a matter of law, supported the offense charged, (2)…”
United States v. Cowan Godfrey, 863 F.3d 1088 (8th Cir. 2017). “See Iowa Code Ann. § 723.1 . Taken together, Godfrey contends that these witness statements and guilty-pleas corroborate the version of events presented in his objection.”
Mark Nieters v. Brandon Holtan, 83 F.4th 1099 (8th Cir. 2023). ““A person can join ‘an unlawful assembly by not disassociating himself from the group 1 Under Iowa Code § 723.1 “[a] riot is three or more persons assembled together in a violent and disturbing manner, and with any use of unlawful force or violence by them or any of them against…”
State v. Wenzel, 306 N.W.2d 769 (Iowa 1981). · cites it 2× “Defendants Clarence and Donald Wenzel were charged by informations with rioting in violation of section 723.1, The Code 1979, in connection with a labor dispute.”
Glatstein v. Grund, 51 N.W.2d 162 (Iowa 1952). · cites it 2× “While it is important jurors refrain from talking about a case during the trial, it is absolutely essential there be no jury tampering or other violation of section 723.1, Code, 1950. , VI. Defendant, Carl and his brother, principal witnesses for defendant, all'testified in…”
State v. Aldrich, 231 N.W.2d 890 (Iowa 1975). · cites it 2× “The same word in § 723.1, The Code ("Interference with administration of justice.”
Powers v. McCullough, 140 N.W.2d 378 (Iowa 1966). · cites it 2× “In that case an individual was charged Avith having interfered with administration of justice in violation of Code section 723.1, and he there challenged use of the term “attempt in any manner to improperly influence, intimidate, impede or.”
Essence Welch v. Daniel Dempsey, 51 F.4th 809 (8th Cir. 2022). “He suggests only that persons other than Welch took part in a “riot” at an earlier time, see Iowa Code § 723.1 , and that protestors arguably engaged in an “unlawful assembly” involving three or more persons, see Iowa Code § 723.”
State v. Whitehead, 277 N.W.2d 887 (Iowa 1979). “Defendant Whitehead, former Jasper County attorney, was indicted for violating § 723.1, The Code 1975 (interference with the administration of justice).”
State of Iowa v. Olijuan Deshawn Abraham (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 723.1 . M.S.’s injuries were a direct result of this riot’s unlawful force or violence, and “a defendant does not join in a 7 riot or remain a part of a riot unless he conducts himself in a violent manner.”
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