Thousands of domestic abusers are getting away with it despite Iowa's get-tough laws
In June 2013, Ryder Lee Sisco was arrested in Davenport after he was accused of choking his live-in girlfriend and slamming her against a wall so hard she cut her head.
But the domestic abuse charges against him were dropped when the woman refused to cooperate with prosecutors.
Two years later, Sisco was arrested again, this time for attacking a different woman he was living with in Jackson County. He wrapped a T-shirt around her neck as he sexually assaulted her, court documents say.
This time, Sisco was sent to prison.
Alarmed by the number of serious and repeated cases of domestic abuse, Iowa lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year that will mete out stiffer penalties to repeat offenders starting July 1.
Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2017/06/24/domestic-abuse/400825001/