State v. Johnson

SNELL, Justice.

In this case, the State appeals the district court’s dismissal of a charge of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person against Paula Kathleen Johnson. The charge arose from the alleged mistreatment of Johnson’s husband, Wallace Earhardt Johnson. The district court held that the relevant section of the Iowa Code only applies to situations in which an individual has legal custody of another. We reverse and remand.

I. Factual Background

Wallace and Paula Johnson married on May 7, 1982. In 1986, physicians diagnosed Wallace as suffering. from Parkinson’s disease. Wallace’s…