State of Iowa v. Toby Ryan Richards

HECHT, Justice.

On trial for domestic abuse assault, Toby Richards asserted he acted in self-defense after his then-girlfriend, Trish Poell, instigated the confrontation. The State offered evidence about previous incidents during which Richards allegedly slapped Poell, struck her neck with his cell phone, and threw her against a refrigerator. 'While these other acts could be viewed as textbook examples of propensity evidence, the State asserted they were admissible because they were probative of Richards’s intent in committing the charged assault. See Iowa R. Evid. 5.404(6) (providing evidence…