Union County Attorney's Office

Note: Iowa Code Section 720.1

Recently our office has been involved in several prosecutions dealing with crimes wherein the complainant wishes to dismiss the charge once the damages have been paid.

Iowa Code Section 720.1 specifically addresses this matter. It states:

"A person having knowledge of the commission by another
of a crime who receives any consideration for a promise to
conceal such crime, or not to prosecute . . . compounds that
crime."

Compounding is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment up to two (2) years in the penitentiary, or a $5,000.00 fine or both.