This bill establishes the offense of "assault by criminal groping" in Iowa law, defining it as an assault that involves intentional physical contact with another person's intimate body parts without the intent to commit sexual abuse. The bill specifies that intimate body parts include the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, groin, buttock, genitals, anus, or breast. It introduces penalties for this offense, categorizing a first violation as a serious misdemeanor, a second violation as an aggravated misdemeanor, and a third or subsequent violation as a class D felony. The penalties for these offenses include varying terms of confinement and fines.

Additionally, the bill mandates that if a court determines the assault was sexually motivated, the offender must register as a sex offender based on the victim's age. Specifically, if the victim is 14 years of age or older, the offender will register as a tier I sex offender, while if the victim is under 14 years of age, the offender will register as a tier II sex offender. The bill amends existing legal language to incorporate these new definitions and penalties, enhancing the legal framework surrounding sexual offenses in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 692A.102, 709.11A