State v. Straw

BECKER, Justice.

Defendant was charged by county attorney’s information with the crime of sale of beer to a minor in that he “did unlawfully and willfully sell * * * to Thomas G. VanSyoc, a minor, * * * ” contrary to section 124.20 of the Iowa Code. Trial to jury resulted in conviction. Defendant appeals. Reversed and remanded.

The facts are brief and largely uncontested. On March 31, 1970, Thomas Van-Syoc was 16 years old, about 6 feet tall, weighed 190 pounds, wore his hair rather long and had a goatee and long sideburns.

At the time of the sale defendant was an employee of the Circle Tap. His…