The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor, or lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, is generally committed when (1) the offender touches the child’s body or gets the child to touch the child’s body, the offender’s body, or someone else; (2) the touching occurs on bare skin or through clothing; (3) the touching was for sexual reasons; and (4) the child was under 14 years of age.

Laws regarding lewd acts with a minor vary from state to state, including the required age of the child and the required elements of the criminal offense. And some states classify the criminal offense of lewd acts with minor as the criminal offense of indecency with a minor, or lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child, or a similar offense.

Some states have expanded the definition of these laws to include looking at the body or private parts of a child in a sexual manner, or causing or forcing a child to witness sex acts in the presence of the child. These states prosecute persons who engage in such activity in online video chat rooms for this criminal offense.

The criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor (or similar offense) is generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Iowa, the criminal offense of lewd acts with a minor is addressed under Iowa Code Section 709.8, which defines 'Lascivious Acts with a Child.' The law states that an offense is committed when a person, for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of either party, fondles or touches the inner thigh, groin, buttock, anus, or breast of a child, or makes a child do so to themselves or another, when the child is under the age of 14. The touching can occur either over or under clothing. Additionally, Iowa law criminalizes the act of a person who solicits a minor to engage in a sex act or who inflicts pain or discomfort upon a minor for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual desires. The state may also prosecute individuals who engage in such conduct online, including in video chat rooms. These offenses are serious and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and registration as a sex offender. It's important to note that the specific charges and penalties can vary depending on the circumstances of the case, including the age of the child and the nature of the acts involved.