State of Iowa v. Austin James Haler

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 20-1349
Filed June 30, 2021

STATE OF IOWA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

AUSTIN JAMES HALER,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Fremont County, Michael D. Hooper,

Judge.

Defendant appeals his sentence following conviction for possession of

methamphetamine with intent to deliver. AFFIRMED.

Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Maria Ruhtenberg,

Assistant Appellate Defender, for appellant.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Thomas E. Bakke, Assistant

Attorney General, for appellee.

Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Greer and Schumacher, JJ.
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SCHUMACHER, Judge.

After pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to

deliver in September 2019, Austin Haler was granted a deferred judgment and

placed on probation for a period of two years. Approximately a year into Haler’s

probationary period, Haler admitted violating his probation and his deferred

judgment was revoked in October 2020. Following the revocation of the deferred

judgment and imposition of conviction, Haler was sentenced to an indeterminate

term of incarceration not to exceed ten years. Haler’s sole argument on appeal is

the district court abused its discretion by imposing a period of incarceration rather

than another rehabilitative option. We find no abuse of discretion by the district

court and accordingly affirm.

Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

An appeal from a guilty plea is typically barred. Iowa Code § 814.6(1)

(2020). However, a defendant may challenge a sentence following a guilty plea

on direct appeal if good cause is established. Id. Good cause is established “when

the defendant challenges his or her sentence rather than the guilty plea.” State v.

Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020). “We readily distinguish appeals

challenging the guilty plea itself from appeals challenging the sentence imposed

after the plea is accepted.” Id. (footnote omitted). Because Haler challenges his

sentence, he has demonstrated good cause, and we may consider his appeal.

The Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure allow for the correction of an illegal

sentence at any time. Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.24(5)(a). Sentencing errors “may be

challenged on direct appeal even in the absence of an objection in the district

court.” State v. Lathrop, 781 N.W.2d 288, 293 (Iowa 2010). Sentencing decisions
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are reviewed for the correction of errors at law. Iowa R. App. P. 6.907. Because

Haler’s sentence is within the statutory limit (an indeterminate term not to exceed

ten years) under Iowa Code section 902.9, we review the court’s decision for an

abuse of discretion. See State v. Thomas, 547 N.W.2d 223, 225 (Iowa 1996). “An

abuse of discretion is found when the court exercises its discretion on grounds

clearly untenable or to an extent clearly unreasonable.” State v. Evans, 672

N.W.2d 328, 331 (Iowa 2003).

I. Facts and Procedural History

Haler pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver,

a class “C” felony, in violation of Iowa Code section 124.401(1)(c)(6) (2019), in

September 2019. The district court deferred judgment and placed Haler under

probationary supervision for two years. In September 2020, the State reported

multiple probation violations, including Haler’s failure to obtain a drug and alcohol

evaluation, Haler’s use of methamphetamine, and Haler’s charge for possession

of a controlled substance in Nebraska.

At the probation revocation hearing in October 2020, Haler admitted to the

probation violations, including a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt to the Nebraska

matter, and agreed to the revocation of his deferred judgment. However, Haler

requested to remain on probation. The State recommended a sentence of ten

years in prison. The court revoked the deferred judgment, entered the conviction,

and imposed a prison sentence for an indeterminate term of incarceration not to

exceed ten years. The sentence was not suspended. Haler timely appealed.
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II. Discussion

Haler argues the district court abused its discretion by sentencing him to a

period of incarceration instead of another option for rehabilitation. The trial court

must, at a minimum, consider “the nature of the offense, the attendant

circumstances, the defendant’s age, character, propensities, and chances of

reform.” State v. Dvorsky, 322 N.W.2d 62, 67 (Iowa 1982). Haler contends that

despite his past struggles with substance abuse, he has recently made positive

changes and showed a willingness to improve. He argues that prison is not the

best option to facilitate his rehabilitation. “A sentencing court is to consider any

mitigating circumstances relating to a defendant”. State v. Witham, 583 N.W.2d

677, 678 (Iowa 1998). However, the court is not required to acknowledge each

mitigating factor urged by the defendant, and just because the court did not

mention a factor that does not mean the factor was not considered. State v. Boltz,

542 N.W.2d 9, 11 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). Here, we find a proper exercise of

discretion by the district court.

At hearing, the following exchange occurred between the court and the

defendant after the defendant provided a statement of allocution:

THE COURT: Mr. Haler, I don’t feel you’re a good candidate
for more probation. You were on probation and you had a chance
to have this completely dismissed from your record if you could have
just toed the line. A: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: And while you’re on probation you not only
commit another crime but commit a crime dealing with the same
substance you were originally granted a second chance on. You
understand that? A: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: So I am gonna revoke your deferred judgment,
I’m gonna impose the sentence that you pled guilty to before. You’re
gonna be sentenced to a term of ten years in the Iowa Department of
Corrections. I’m not gonna suspend that. Mittimus will issue
immediately. I will suspend the thousand-dollar fine, and because of
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the fact that you’re gonna be incarcerated for indeterminate term of
ten years I will find that you do not have the ability to pay court costs
or court-appointed attorney fees, and I’ll waive those items.
The reason for my sentence is your need for rehabilitation,
your likelihood for rehabilitation, and society’s need for further
protection from further offenses by you, and the fact that you’re just
committing the same crimes while you’re on probation.

A sentence must achieve the maximum opportunity for a defendant’s

rehabilitation and, at the same time, protect the community. Iowa Code § 901.5.

Iowa Code section 901.5 provides that the determination of this sentence is within

the discretion of the court. A court is not required to recite reasons for rejecting

certain sentencing options while adopting others. State v. Loyd, 530 N.W.2d 708,

713–14 (Iowa 1995). Further, the sentencing court’s decision is “cloaked with a

strong presumption in [their] favor”, and it is incumbent upon the defendant to

overcome this “presumption of regularity”. See State v. Pappas, 337 N.W.2d 490,

494 (Iowa 1983) (quoting State v. Gartin, 271 N.W.2d 902, 910 (Iowa 1978)). The

defendant must make a showing that the district court relied on grounds that were

“clearly untenable” or “clearly unreasonable”. Id. Haler has failed to make that

showing here.

“Grounds or reasons are untenable if they are ‘based on an erroneous

application of the law or not supported by substantial evidence.’” State v. Dudley,

856 N.W.2d 668, 675 (Iowa 2014) (citation omitted). Among the reasons the

district court listed at the hearing were Haler’s failure to comply with probation, the

need for rehabilitation, and society’s need for protection from further offenses by
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Haler. The court also noted Haler’s ongoing criminal activity.1 The district court’s

written sentencing order reiterated these reasons for the sentence. The sentence

imposed does not indicate an “erroneous application of the law,” as it was within

the court’s discretion to determine the appropriate sentencing option within the

statutory limits. See Iowa Code § 902.9.

III. Conclusion

The district court’s sentence of an indeterminate term of incarceration not

to exceed ten years was not decided on grounds that are clearly untenable or

clearly unreasonable. Further, the trial court is not required to give its reasons for

rejecting alternative sentencing options or list every factor considered. For the

foregoing reasons, we conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing

Haler to an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed ten years. According,

we affirm.

AFFIRMED.

1Atthe time of the sentencing hearing, Haler admitted he had been found guilty of
the Nebraska charge and was awaiting sentencing. Haler raises no issue on
appeal concerning this consideration.