Lang
8/22/25
The Johnson County Attorney’s Office has filed the State of Iowa’s rebuttal in response to the closing arguments in the trial of former University of Iowa student Ali Younes, who is accused of robbing and attempting to kill a woman near the Iowa Memorial Union in April of 2022.
At first, the 21-year-old Younes told investigators that he had been studying on campus, and his girlfriend had picked him up. He said they smoked marijuana, had sex, and went to bed. He then said he smoked near the IMU footbridge at around 9:00 on the night in question, then went for a walk and came upon the woman being chased by an unknown male. Younes said the two went toward Art Building West, but by the time he caught up to the two the woman was passed out. Younes admitted to being high and said got “spooked” when two women approached him while he was on top of the reported victim. He did admit to stealing the woman’s earrings, which the victim said were valued at $25,000.
Investigators found the earrings in a floss box in Younes’ girlfriend’s bathroom, where Younes said they would be.
Investigators say Younes eventually confessed to the attack in 2024. He faces up to sixty years in prison if convicted on Attempted Murder, 1st Degree Robbery and 1st Degree Theft charges.
Now that the State of Iowa has filed its rebuttal, a decision from Judge Kevin McKeever will determine whether or not Younes is convicted of any of the charges.
Younes also has a related pending case regarding charges of Escape from Custody, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison upon conviction.