Opinion ID: 1573016
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the Prosecution is Barred Under Iowa Code Section 803.4 or Section 816.1.

Text: Iowa Code section 803.4 provides: A conviction or acquittal of an offense in a court having jurisdiction thereof is a bar to a prosecution of the offense in another court. Iowa Code section 816.1 provides: A conviction or acquittal by a judgment upon a verdict shall bar another prosecution for the same offense, notwithstanding a defect in form or substance in the indictment on which the conviction or acquittal took place. The legislature is presumed to know the usual meaning ascribed by the courts to language and to intend that meaning unless the context shows otherwise. State v. Jones, 298 N.W.2d 296, 298 (Iowa 1980); State v. Wilson, 287 N.W.2d 587, 589 (Iowa 1980). In considering the statutes set forth above in inverse order in accordance with this principle, we believe that the key words in section 816.1 are for the same offense. Manifestly, the federal court prosecution of which this defendant was acquitted was not of the same offense. The federal trial involved an offense against the laws of the United States, while the pending criminal charge involves an offense against the laws of the State of Iowa. In reviewing the provisions of section 803.4, we believe the key words are of an offense in a court having jurisdiction thereof. Manifestly, the federal court did not have jurisdiction to prosecute the pending offense arising under the laws of the State of Iowa. We have considered all issues presented and conclude that the judgment of the district court must be reversed. The case is remanded to that court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED.