Iowa Supreme Court suspends license of lawyer accused of child sex abuse crimes in two states

Iowa lawyer Enoch Keoki Keli’i Waipa, facing criminal charges for sexually abusing a child, had his law license suspended by the Iowa Supreme Court. (Image from Shutterstock)

An Iowa lawyer facing criminal charges for sexually abusing a child has had his law license suspended by the Iowa Supreme Court.

Enoch Keoki Keli’i Waipa, who practiced law in Clarinda, Iowa, and the surrounding area, filed a response to a proposed disciplinary action with the Iowa Supreme Court, based on the April suspension of his Colorado law license.

According to coverage on IowaCapitalDispatch.com, Waipa’s 90-day suspension stems from 2025 convictions that include child endangerment resulting in bodily injury and domestic abuse assault. He received a five-year prison sentence with three years of probation and plans to appeal the conviction.

After considering the case filings, the court found “no reason why it should not impose reciprocal discipline.” In a separate case, Waipa was charged with lascivious acts with a child, indecent contact with a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child and three counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse—all related to a 9-year-old minor. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 1, 2026. Waipa declined to comment for the article.