Opinion ID: 2221604
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Propriety of the Enhanced Sentence

Text: Following his conviction, Oetken was sentenced as an habitual offender. Defendant now contends the district court was without authority to so rule. Oetken bases this assertion on the fact that the State filed a substituted and supplemental trial information within which no reference was made to defendant's purported status as an habitual offender. Defendant maintains the substituted trial information replaced the one previously filed, thereby relieving the court of jurisdiction to consider the matter. A challenge to subject matter jurisdiction may be made at any time. State v. Mandicino, 509 N.W.2d 481, 482 (Iowa 1993). Generally, this rule is extended to instances like this one where a court has jurisdiction, but is more appropriately alleged to lack the authority to hear a particular case. Id. Our review of this issue is for correction of errors at law. State v. Clark, 608 N.W.2d 5, 7 (Iowa 2000); Holding v. Franklin County Zoning Bd., 565 N.W.2d 318, 320 (Iowa 1997). Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(5) provides: If the offense charged is one for which the defendant, if convicted, will be subject by reason of the Code, to an increased penalty because of prior convictions, the allegation of such convictions, if any, shall be contained in the indictment. A supplemental indictment shall be prepared for the purpose of trial of the facts of the current offense only, and shall satisfy all pertinent requirements, except that it shall make no mention, directly or indirectly, of the allegation of the prior convictions, and shall be the only indictment read or otherwise presented to the jury prior to conviction of the current offense. The effect of this subdivision shall be to alter the procedure for trying, in one criminal proceeding, the offenses appropriate to its provisions, and not to alter in any manner the basic elements of an offense as provided by law. Rule 6(5) is applicable with respect to prior convictions used as a basis for enhancement penalties. State v. Cook, 565 N.W.2d 611, 614 (Iowa 1997). The purpose of the rule is to ensure an accused a fair trial on the primary charge by requiring the prosecution to file a supplemental information in which prejudicial references to a defendant's criminal history are deleted. Id. at 613. Here, the State filed a substituted and supplemental information in order to comply with rule 6(5). At no point did the State expressly or impliedly indicate an intent to drop the habitual offender charges. Nor was this a ploy to mislead or deceive the defendant. This procedure has been utilized by Iowa courts for the last thirty-five years, and was designed to put Oetken on notice. See State v. Robinson, 165 N.W.2d 802, 803-04 (Iowa 1969). Defendant cannot now claim he was unaware of the impending habitual offender adjudication. To do so would be disingenuous. The record indicates Oetken was privy to conversations in which the court addressed issues concerning defendant's status during trial. It also reveals Oetken stipulated to the propriety of two prior burglary convictions, and specifically relieved the State of its duty to prove him an habitual offender. See Iowa R.Crim. P. 18(9). Oetken, however, contends the district court erred in accepting this stipulation without first determining whether he understood the consequences of admitting his criminal past. Oetken cites State v. Brady, 442 N.W.2d 57 (Iowa 1989), wherein defendant, Brady, was convicted of burglary and adjudicated an habitual offender. On appeal, Brady claimed his avowal of prior felonies under the habitual offender statute was tantamount to a guilty plea, and that the trial court was thus required to advise him in accordance with Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 8(2)(b) before accepting a voluntary concession. Brady, 442 N.W.2d at 57. Although Brady's claim did not survive on its merits, we did acknowledge a defendant's admission of prior felony convictions which provide the predicate for sentencing as an habitual offender is so closely analogous to a guilty plea that it is appropriate to refer to our rules governing pleas, specifically, rule 8(2)(b).... Id. at 58. Rule 8(2)(b) provides in relevant part: Pleas of guilty. The court may refuse to accept a plea of guilty, and shall not accept a plea of guilty without first determining that the plea is made voluntarily and intelligently and has a factual basis. Before accepting a plea of guilty, the court must address the defendant personally in open court and inform the defendant of, and determine that the defendant understands the following: (1) The nature of the charge to which the plea is offered. (2) The mandatory minimum punishment, if any, and the maximum possible punishment provided by the statute defining the offense to which the plea is offered. There is nothing in the record to indicate Oetken failed to understand the nature of an habitual offender decree, or the significance of his admission. Oetken agreed to stipulate as to his habitual offender status during both trials. He also took the stand in his own defense and professed to having twice been convicted of felonies involving dishonesty. At Oetken's allocution the possible implications with regard to the sentencing of an habitual offender were discussed at length. Defendant was then afforded an opportunity to speak on his own behalf. In hopes of inducing leniency, Oetken again admitted his criminal past, expressed his regrets, and conveyed his desire for a promising and productive future with his family. Even though defendant was fully cognizant of his rights, including those delineated under rule 18(9), no effort was made to deny his criminal record, or to object to the propriety of sentence enhancement. See Iowa R.Crim. P. 18(9). The trial court discharged its duty to inform the defendant as to the ramifications of an habitual offender adjudication. Under the circumstances, there is little else the court could have done to more clearly explicate the matter. Accordingly, we find no error was committed.