Opinion ID: 2023562
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Consideration of Unprosecuted Offenses in Sentencing.

Text: Next, defendant argues that the trial judge impermissibly considered other unprosecuted offenses when he imposed the defendant's sentence. At the sentencing hearing, the judge made the following statement: [The defendant] has been arrested on four occasions for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and that those three cases were dismissed by the County Attorney for one reason or another, and that he shouldn't be held responsible for those since he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in front of a jury or a Judge, and that shouldn't be considered in the sentence..... .... ... I have to under the law sentence you as a first offense because that's what it was, and [] you weren't convicted on the other three. But I believe that I can take into consideration that there was a problem because you were arrested for some type of alcohol-related incident and that for some reason maybe they couldn't prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that's why those were dismissed, and the Court has to take that into consideration. That this is a first, but you've had three prior arrests. The judge then sentenced defendant to thirty days in the Polk County jail. The sentencing order provided that, in lieu of the thirty days in jail, Sinclair could opt to enter a qualified alcohol treatment center for evaluation and treatment for a thirty-day period. The judge imposed a $1000 fine and a requirement that defendant perform 100 hours of pro bono legal work for indigent parties for his community service. Finally, the judge imposed a two-year probation period and suspended defendant's driver's license for 360 days. Both the State and defendant agree that a sentencing court may not consider or rely on charges of unprosecuted offenses unless they are admitted by the defendant or otherwise proved. State v. Black, 324 N.W.2d 313, 315 (Iowa 1982). Here, there is no evidence that indicates the charges were admitted by Sinclair or otherwise proved. Instead, the State argues that the judge did not consider the unproven offenses. We are convinced, however, that the judge's statements on the record conclusively show that he did consider the unproven offenses in sentencing the defendant. Because of this consideration of improper factors, we vacate the sentence and remand the case for resentencing.