Hunter
09/15/25
A Cedar Falls man was arrested overnight Sunday after an alleged attempted sexual assault in Iowa City.
According to the police report, 20-year-old Joseph Kenkel was walking northbound on Dubuque Street just before 2:30am, when he came upon a woman. He allegedly approached her, and without consent put his arm around her and said he would walk her home.
During the walk, Kenkel reportedly unbuttoned the woman’s skirt and put his hand down the skirt, fondling her buttock. She told him to stop but he continued until two other subjects confronted him. The woman asked them for help, and Kenkel allegedly tried to punch the other subjects. He reportedly missed and ended up hitting the woman in the head, causing pain.
Police on scene were provided an ID by Kenkel, which turned out to be fictitious and showed him to be of legal drinking age. He also allegedly showed signs of intoxication including bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, impaired balance, and the odor of ingested alcohol. A post-arrest PBT showed his breath-alcohol level at .165 percent.
Kenkel has been charged with Assault with intent to commit Sexual Abuse, Assault causing Bodily Injury, Possession of a fictitious ID, and Public Intoxication. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to over three years in prison.