Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 726.26 (2026)

Dependent adult abuse — initiation of charges — penalty

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. For the purposes of this section, “caretaker”, “dependent adult”, and “dependent adult abuse” mean the same as defined in section 235B.2 or section 235E.1, as applicable.

2. A charge of dependent adult abuse may be initiated upon the complaint of a private individual, as a result of an investigation by a social service agency, or on the direct initiative of the office of the attorney general, a county attorney, or a law enforcement agency.

3. A caretaker who intentionally or recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of murder in the second degree in violation of section 707.3 if the intentional or reckless dependent adult abuse results in the death of the dependent adult.

4. A caretaker who intentionally commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “C” felony if the intentional dependent adult abuse results in serious injury.

5. A caretaker who recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “D” felony if the reckless dependent adult abuse results in serious injury.

6. A caretaker who intentionally commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a class “C” felony if the intentional dependent adult abuse results in physical injury.

7. A caretaker who commits dependent adult abuse by exploitation of a dependent adult is guilty of a class “D” felony if the value of the property, assets, or resources exceeds one hundred dollars.

8. A caretaker who recklessly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor if the reckless dependent adult abuse results in physical injury.

9. A caretaker who otherwise intentionally or knowingly commits dependent adult abuse is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.

10. A caretaker who commits dependent adult abuse by exploitation of a dependent adult is guilty of a simple misdemeanor if the value of the property, assets, or resources is one hundred dollars or less.

11. A caretaker alleged to have committed dependent adult abuse shall be charged with the respective offense cited, unless a charge may be brought based upon a more serious offense, in which case the charge of the more serious offense shall supersede the less serious charge. 2022 Acts, ch 1132, §6; 2022 Acts, ch 1153, §47; 2024 Acts, ch 1073, §8 Referred to in §235E.4, 272C.15, 633.669, 633.670, 671A.2 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 1 case (1 in the last 5 years), 2025–2025 · leading case: State of Iowa v. Melissa Renee Pedersen (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).

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State of Iowa v. Melissa Renee Pedersen (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “Her attorney also argued that the court should find it mitigating that Pedersen “grew up with an abusive and alcoholic father, which it sounds like 1 Effective July 1, 2022—while this case was pending in the district court—this statute was repealed and reenacted in substantially…”

— Iowa Code § 726.26(4) — 1 case

State of Iowa v. Melissa Renee Pedersen (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Her attorney also argued that the court should find it mitigating that Pedersen “grew up with an abusive and alcoholic father, which it sounds like 1 Effective July 1, 2022—while this case was pending in the district court—this statute was repealed and reenacted in substantially…”

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