Judge won’t dismiss sex abuse charges against Chicago man

Defendant argued he shouldn’t be charged because girl’s parents consented

Aug. 22, 2022 3:26 pm

IOWA CITY — A judge will not dismiss sexual assault charges against a Chicago man, who argued he shouldn’t be charged for having sex with 15-year-old Johnson County girl because her parents gave him permission in 2015.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Andrew Chappell, in his written ruling filed last Friday, said even if the court accepted the argument of Yaniv Azriel, 27, who is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, that the teen’s parents approved of their relationship and consented to them dating and every sex act alleged, it wouldn’t negate Iowa law.

“Legally, it simply doesn’t matter if the child’s parents were complicit in what happened, and it certainly doesn’t matter of the child’s parents were just being naive,” Chappell said in the ruling. “Neither set of facts helps defendant because neither scenario negates his alleged criminal intent or actions.”

Azriel also asked the court to make the prosecution provide a bill of particulars — more information regarding the charges against him.

Chappell said the trial information and minutes of testimony — summary of the evidence — give Azriel sufficient evidence to explain the charges, so he can prepare a defense. The documents identify the teen, her age, the date of the incidents, specific location of where each happened and the specific sex acts.

Azriel was arrested in March in Chicago by U.S. Marshals on a warrant for sexual abuse charges in Johnson and Mitchell counties.

He is accused of sexually abusing the same 15-year-old girl who lived in Johnson County in 2015 and in Mitchell County in 2014 and 2015, according to a criminal complaint.

Azriel is also charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse in Mitchell County.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years on each charge.