Daniel Rothman’s client was charged with Burglary in the 1st degree a class B felony in Madison county.  A class B felony is the 2nd highest level of crime in Iowa and it is the same level as attempted murder.  The penalty for this charge is 25 years in prison and as it is a forcible felony, it comes with a mandatory 17.5 years before you can try to parole.  There were weaknesses in the state’s case and in the end, the client decided to take a deal for a reduction to a serious misdemeanor assault which is the same level as an OWI 1st.  With the agreement, the client also gets a deferred judgment that will allow him to expunge the assault charge and even the record of arrest with the clerk of court, after only 6 months.