Prosecutors in Iowa are moving to dismiss criminal gambling charges against several Iowa State players due to an alleged overreach in authorities tracking of the players’ use of sports-betting apps.
Assistant Story County attorney Benjamin Matchan, in a court filing, stated that the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation had “exceeded the scope of permitted use of tracking software that detected open mobile betting apps in Iowa State athletic facilities.”
“Due to this newly discovered evidence, the State no longer believes further prosecution in this matter is in the interests of justice,” Matchan wrote.
The move comes after attorneys representing former Iowa State football players Isaiah Lee, Jirehl Brock, and Eyioma Uwazurike made a motion earlier this week to suppress the digital evidence.
They argued that a special agent for the Division of Criminal Investigation had violated the agency’s limited-use agreement with a geofencing tracking firm by using its software to locate places inside Iowa State athletic facilities where athletes were allegedly making wagers on mobile betting platforms.
Citing the DCI’s inappropriate use of bet tracking software, prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss charges against four Iowa State athletes today.
I believe 16 athletes already pleaded guilty as part of the investigation. https://t.co/O8aZf59Gmk
— Tyler Jett (@LetsJett) March 1, 2024
The defense also contended that there was no probable cause for the searches.
It appears that the defense’s arguments resonated, prompting the prosecution to reconsider its stance. The decision to dismiss the charges does not necessarily imply innocence but rather underscores the constitutional limits governing the methods authorities can employ to gather evidence.
