Opinion ID: 1838226
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant first contends the trial court erred and abused its discretion by excessive reliance on the information contained in the presentence report when passing sentence on defendant.

Text: In written argument defendant does not question the obligation and right of the county attorney to make his recommendation to the trial court concerning the sentencing of defendant. Neither does he contest the trial court's use of a presentence investigation report or any other source of information which would be beneficial to the trial court to assist in the determination of a fair and equitable sentence. At the outset defendant concedes it is the duty of the trial court to ascertain any and all facts from whatever sources available that would assist the trial court in the proper exercise of its discretion in fixing defendant's sentence, whether or not out of the record. Defendant tells us he is not contending there was lack of due process but rather challenges fairness and equity in relation to the examination by the court of the presentence investigation. It is the trial court's use of the presentence investigation report once it was received which defendant attacks in this appeal. He argues the trial court did not use the presentence investigation merely as one of many sources of information but rather as the only source. Defendant's real argument seems to be the report was biased because written by one person alone and therefore trial court's reliance on it was reversible error. It is not stated outright, however, that the report was biased; rather the argument is that it possibly was biased. Even asserting bias on the part of the writer is probably stronger than defendant intended, he states the argument this way: It is not disputed that all of the aforementioned factors were possibly included within the presentence investigation report, but what must be remembered is that it was within one report written by one man and possibly favoring that one man's opinion of the Defendant's record and background. Defendant's argument is made in the face of a record which discloses that at no time did defendant challenge accuracy of statements in this report about his background nor was the trial judge asked to disregard any of them or to afford defendant a chance to refute or discredit any of them by cross-examination or otherwise. He made no request that the State be required to offer evidence in support of the statements. This court has recognized that the sentencing process is not immune from scrutiny. However, in the absence of evidence to the contrary this court must assume the trial court made proper use of the presentence report and did not give consideration to anything based upon rumor, speculation or conjecture. State v. Delano, 161 N.W.2d 66, 71 (Iowa 1968). Defendant's contention urged in the respects thus far considered is without merit. II. At another point in argument defendant urges in support of his first assignment that any record of prior convictions contained in the presentence investigation report should not have been considered by the trial court in determining the appropriate sentence to be imposed. He relies on State v. Rand, 238 Iowa 250, 25 N.W.2d 800. Obviously, defendant has confused the principle of law stated in the cited case and repeated in State v. Armstrong, 183 N.W.2d 205, 207-209 (Iowa 1971) and State v. Hopkins, 192 N.W.2d 747, 748-749 (Iowa 1972) and in many other decisions of this court to the effect that with certain enumerated exceptions the State cannot prove against a defendant any crime not alleged in the indictment, either as a foundation for separate punishment or as aiding the proofs that he is guilty of the crime charged. The principle recognized in the cited cases was made in reference to the determination of guilt stage and has no application to the sentencing stage. The procedure in the sentencing process is not the same as in the trial process. See State v. Delano, 161 N.W.2d at 69-71, where the matter is discussed at some length and will not be repeated here. The contention is without merit.