Opinion ID: 2067026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Willfulness Issue.

Text: Moeller contends the court erred in not requiring a showing of willfulness. He contends that, even though he had been informed that the order was still in effect, he might reasonably have believed that Karen was successful in having the no-contact order lifted. Moeller relies on our cases stating that willful disobedience of a court order must be shown, a rule that applies in contempt cases. See State v. Lipcamon, 483 N.W.2d 605, 607 (Iowa 1992); Bell v. Iowa Dist. Ct., 494 N.W.2d 729, 730 (Iowa App.1992). The problem is that Moeller was not cited for contempt. He was charged with a simple misdemeanor violation, as permitted by Iowa Code section 236.8 (A person commits a simple misdemeanor or the court may hold a person in contempt for a violation of [a no-contact] order ... .). Although Moeller contends that he was charged with the contempt alternative of section 236.8, the record does not bear that out. His case was shown throughout the magistrate and district court proceedings as a criminal charge for a misdemeanor. Even Moeller's own attorney, following the filing of a criminal complaint, acknowledged that the offense was a simple misdemeanor. He said so in his application to the court to exceed the suggested fee limitation in misdemeanor cases. Although willfulness must be shown in a contempt case, Moeller cites no authorities that say a showing of willfulness is required in a simple misdemeanor prosecution for the violation of a no-contact order. We have said that the seriousness of a contempt finding, carrying up to six months in jail under Iowa Code section 665.4, is sufficient to require a showing of willfulness. See Lipcamon, 483 N.W.2d at 607. We conclude that, under the misdemeanor prosecution alternative of section 236.8, the State need not prove a willful violation of the no-contact order. We believe the State sufficiently established the elements of the crime charged and therefore affirm. AFFIRMED.