Iowa City man charged with assault with intent of sexual abuse

An Iowa City man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he assaulted two women and attempted to sexually abuse them.

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Hozaifa Ali, 24, is charged with false imprisonment, assault, assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, and two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

According to criminal complaints, the first assault happened on June 5, 2025, when he prevented a woman from leaving a house in Iowa City for over an hour, during which time he repeatedly touched and grabbed her while she attempted to get away and told him to stop.

The second assault happened on June 28, 2025, when he grabbed a different woman and pulled her close to him while trying to take off her clothes as she tried to get away. The woman suffered bruising from the assault, according to complaints.

Multiple warrants for Ali’s arrest were issued in late September and early October, and he was booked into the Johnson County Jail on Tuesday. He had his first appearance in court Wednesday and is being held on bonds totaling $15,000.

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