Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 902.7 (2026)

Minimum sentence — use of a dangerous weapon

✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section IA-LEGlegis.iowa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

At the trial of a person charged with participating in a forcible felony, if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty of a forcible felony and that the person represented that the person was in the immediate possession and control of a dangerous weapon, displayed a dangerous weapon in a threatening manner, or was armed with a dangerous weapon while participating in the forcible felony the convicted person shall serve a minimum of five years of the sentence imposed by law. A person sentenced pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement imposed by this section. [C79, 81, §902.7] 95 Acts, ch 126, §1 Referred to in §901.10 Definition of forcible felony, §702.11\n\nTue Dec 09 21:52:26 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 902 (35, 0) 5 FELONIES, §902.11

\n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 102 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: State v. Dann, 591 N.W.2d 635 (Iowa 1999).
State v. Dann, 591 N.W.2d 635 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 42× “See Iowa Code § 902.7 . Dann’s counsel objected, pointing out that no special interrogatory was given to the jury on the “dangerous weapon” issue.”
State v. Matlock, 289 N.W.2d 625 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 32× “On November 2, 1978, Judge Karl Kenline sentenced the defendant to ten years in prison subject to the minimum sentencing provision of section 902.7, Supplement to the Code 1977, regarding forcible felonies during which a person represents that he or she is “in the immediate…”
State v. Powers, 278 N.W.2d 26 (Iowa 1979). · cites it 27× “This appeal raises issues of interpretation and constitutionality of section 902.7, Code Supp.1977, which imposes a minimum five-year prison sentence upon a defendant found guilty of a “forcible felony” involving the real or simulated threat of a firearm.”
State of Iowa v. Marshaun Jordan Merrett, 842 N.W.2d 266 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 14× “Iowa Code § 902.7 . 3 . The jury found Merrett not guilty on Count IV, gang participation, and guilty on Count VI, driving while barred.”
State v. Peterson, 327 N.W.2d 735 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 30× “1 also would be interpreted as overriding even the mandatory confinement provision of section 902.7 for use of a firearm during the commission of any forcible felony.”
State v. Young, 293 N.W.2d 5 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 27× “The trial court held it is in sentencing defendant Willie Thomas Young to a mandatory minimum five-year prison term under section 902.7 for use of a firearm in committing a forcible felony.”
State v. Ayers, 590 N.W.2d 25 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 14× “Iowa Code section 902.7 provides: At the trial of a person charged with participating in a forcible felony, if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty of a forcible felony and that the person represented that the person was in the immediate…”
State of Iowa v. Christopher Clay McNeal, 897 N.W.2d 697 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 4× “§ 902.7. McNeal pled not guilty and demanded a speedy trial pursuant to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.”
Meier v. State, 337 N.W.2d 204 (Iowa 1983). · cites it 12× “The "mandatory five-year term" referred to by the parties is provided in Iowa Code section 902.7 (1979): Minimum sentence—use of a firearm.”
State v. Hellwege, 294 N.W.2d 689 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 23× “Writ of certiorari was granted in this case for review of the district court’s refusal to impose the mandatory minimum five-year sentence of confinement prescribed by section 902.7, The Code 1979, for being armed with a firearm while committing a “forcible felony.”
State v. Baker, 560 N.W.2d 10 (Iowa 1997). · cites it 20× “” He also claims he should not have been subject to the mandatory minimum sentence provisions of Iowa Code section 902.7 (1995). We conclude, based on the definition in section 702.”
State v. Holmes, 276 N.W.2d 823 (Iowa 1979). · cites it 12× “4 which precludes reconsideration of a convicted felon's sentence where a minimum *829 sentence of confinement is imposed, (2) section 902.7 which imposes a five-year minimum mandatory sentence without parole for a forcible felony committed while the perpetrator represented that…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.