Arrested in Eastern Iowa?

Iowa City Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Johnson County

I'm a Davenport lawyer who handles cases in Iowa City and Johnson County regularly. I travel. Whether you're a University of Iowa student facing your first arrest or someone dealing with a serious felony charge in the Johnson County Courthouse, I can help — and I'm available by phone right now at 563-275-8820.

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Defense Legacy

50 Years Defending Criminal Cases

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Manhattan Experience

12 Years in Manhattan, Alongside Trial Attorneys Like Joe Tacopina

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Trial Practicum

Drake Law — Home of the Country's Only First-Year Trial Practicum

What Brings Most People to My Phone from Iowa City

Johnson County has a distinctive arrest profile. The University of Iowa draws tens of thousands of students, and Iowa City sees a high volume of alcohol-related charges — OWI, PAULA (possession of alcohol under the legal age), public intoxication, and fake ID offenses. Football Saturdays alone generate a predictable wave of first-offense arrests. I've handled enough of them to know exactly how these cases move through the Johnson County system and where the real opportunities for a clean outcome exist.

 

Beyond student arrests, I also represent Johnson County residents and visitors facing drug charges, assault, domestic assault, weapons offenses, and more serious felonies. The courthouse is different from Scott County. The procedures, the prosecutors, and the judges are different. Experience in that specific building matters.

If You're a University of Iowa Student, Read This First

A college arrest feels catastrophic in the moment. I want to be direct with you: for most first-offense situations, the outcome does not have to follow you permanently.

 

Iowa law provides a deferred judgment option for many first-time offenders. Complete the terms, and the conviction is discharged. Follow that with an expungement, and the record is sealed. That means no permanent criminal record showing up on background checks, no automatic scholarship disqualification, and no explanation owed to a future employer.

 

Here is what I tell students and their families:

 

  • A PAULA or public intoxication charge, handled correctly, rarely ends a college career.
  • A first-offense OWI is deferrable in most cases — your license situation is a separate fight, but it's a winnable one.
  • Fake ID charges carry real consequences if ignored; addressed early, most resolve without a conviction.
  • The 10-day Iowa DOT appeal window after an OWI arrest is not optional. If you miss it, you lose your right to contest the license revocation. Call me before that window closes.

 

Your scholarship does not have to be over. But the window to protect it is short.

Game-Day OWI Arrests: What You Should Know

Iowa Hawkeye football weekends follow a pattern. Law enforcement prepares for them, checkpoints go up, and first-offense OWI arrests spike. If you were arrested on a game day, you are not alone — and you are not in an unusual situation.

 

Most game-day arrests are first-offense OWIs. That matters because first-offense OWI in Iowa is the most deferrable category of the charge. The 48-hour OWI Weekend Program in Johnson County is a common condition of release and part of the standard process — I'll walk you through what it means and what comes next. The defenses available in a typical game-day stop are the same defenses available in any OWI case: the legality of the stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, the calibration and handling of the breathalyzer. I know the script. My job is to find where it breaks down.

Why Hire a Davenport Lawyer for an Iowa City Case?

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Iowa City criminal defense attorneys tend to price for the Iowa City market. I'm based in Davenport, and my rates reflect that. You get the same depth of experience — 50 years of criminal defense practice, 12 years at a top Manhattan firm, four major trials last year — without paying for an Iowa City address.

 

I'm also available in a way that most attorneys are not. When you call 563-275-8820, I answer. Not a service, not a paralegal, not a voicemail box. If you're sitting in a Johnson County holding area at midnight after a football Saturday arrest, I'm the one who picks up.

 

The travel is not a barrier. I make the drive. What matters is the result.

Questions About Iowa City Criminal Defense

  • Do I need a lawyer who is based in Iowa City?

    No. Iowa attorneys are licensed statewide and can appear in any Iowa county court. I handle cases in Johnson County regularly and travel from Davenport for hearings and trial. What matters is experience with the charge and familiarity with the local courthouse — both of which I have.

  • What is the 10-day rule after an OWI arrest in Iowa?

    When you are arrested for OWI in Iowa, the Department of Transportation will revoke your license unless you request an administrative hearing within 10 days of the arrest. This deadline is firm. Missing it means you lose the right to contest the revocation entirely. Call me immediately after an arrest so we can file that request before the window closes.

  • What is the 48-hour OWI Weekend Program in Johnson County?

    Johnson County offers a 48-hour in-custody weekend program as an alternative to serving time in the standard way for certain OWI cases. It is commonly used as a condition of a plea agreement. Whether it applies to your case depends on the specific charge and your history. I can explain whether it's on the table and whether it's the right move.

  • Can a first-offense OWI be expunged in Iowa?

    A deferred judgment — not a conviction — can be expunged after the deferral period is completed. If your OWI results in a deferred judgment and you fulfill all conditions, you can petition to have the record sealed. A conviction itself is not expungeable under Iowa law. Getting the deferred judgment in the first place is the critical step, and that is where having the right attorney makes the difference.

  • My student was arrested in Iowa City and I'm out of state. What should I do?

    Call me directly at 563-275-8820. I work with families regularly, including parents who are hours away when the arrest happens. I can speak with you, explain what your student is facing, and begin protecting their record immediately. The sooner we talk, the more options we have.
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Ready to Talk? I'm Available Now.

If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in Iowa City, Coralville, or anywhere in Johnson County, call me today. I answer my own phone, I travel to Johnson County courts, and I bring 50 years of criminal defense experience to every case I take. The consultation is free and confidential.