by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe crime of Threat of Terrorism in Iowa is defined by Iowa Code Section 708A.5 as follows:
A person who threatens to commit terrorism or threatens to cause terrorism to be committed and who causes a reasonable expectation or fear of the imminent commission of such an act of terrorism commits a class “D” felony.
Iowa law defines “terrorism” in Iowa Code Section 708A.1.3 as “an act intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, or to influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a unit of government, by shooting, throwing, launching, discharging, or otherwise using a dangerous weapon at, into, or in a building, vehicle, airplane, railroad engine, railroad car, or boat, occupied by another person, or within an assembly of people.”
The Class D felony of Threat of Terrorism carries a term of up to 5 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections (prison) upon conviction.