State of Iowa
v.
Paula Lynn Cole
Paula Cole seeks further review of the court of appeals decision affirming her conviction for child endangerment under Iowa Code section 726.6(1)(a). She was charged after leaving her five children, ages twelve to five, alone in her apartment while she went to the store for an undetermined amount of time. Cole argues there was not sufficient evidence to prove the third element of child endangerment regarding whether she acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to the children’s physical, mental or emotional health.
Resister
State of Iowa
Applicant
Paula Lynn Cole
Attorneys for the Resister
Louis S. Sloven
Brian Williams
Alisha Stach
Attorney for the Applicant
Ella M. Newell
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
15-15-5
Jan 23, 2024 1:30 PM
Briefs
Supreme Court Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, William P. Wegman, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Ahlers, P.J., Badding, J., and Vogel, S.J. Opinion by Vogel, S.J. (7 pages)
Paula Cole appeals from her conviction for child endangerment. OPINION HOLDS: The evidence is sufficient to find Cole acted knowingly in a manner that created a substantial risk to her children’s physical, mental, or emotional health.