State of Iowa v. Kari Jean Schwartz

Summary

The court affirmed Schwartz’s conviction for sexual exploitation by a school employee, holding that substantial evidence supported finding a pattern, practice, or scheme and that the jury instructions correctly addressed sexual conduct. The court concluded that the statute does not require a minimum number or duration of acts, and that hugging may constitute sexual conduct when considered in context and alongside the required specific intent. The court also held that, even assuming a technical instructional error, the instructions as a whole and the parties’ arguments did not prejudice Schwartz.