Iowa Code 717D.4 – Penalties

1. Except as provided in section 717D.2, subsection 10, a person who violates a provision of this chapter commits a class “D” felony.

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:

Class	Prison	Fine
Class D felony	up to 5 years	between $1,025 and $10,245
Aggravated misdemeanor	up to 2 years	between $855 and $8,540

Contest event: means a function organized for the entertainment or profit of spectators where an animal is injured, tormented, or killed, including but not limited to a bull involved in a bullfight or bull baiting, a bear involved in bear baiting, a chicken involved in cock fighting, or a dog involved in dog fighting. See Iowa Code 717D.1
following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
Spectator: means a person who attends an establishment knowingly to watch or observe a contest event. See Iowa Code 717D.1
state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1

2. A person who violates section 717D.2, subsection 10, by acting as a spectator of a contest event conducted in this state commits the following:

a. An aggravated misdemeanor for the first offense.

b. A class “D” felony for a second or subsequent offense.