Opinion ID: 2176486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Consideration of Past Convictions in Sentencing.

Text: Padavich's final argument is that at the sentencing hearing, the district court abused its discretion by improperly considering two past convictionslater reversedin fashioning Padavich's sentence. Padavich asks for a new sentencing hearing to cure this error. The State counters that the court's on-the-record comments at the sentencing hearing when taken in contextdemonstrate the court did not rely on the reversed convictions. Rather, the court's comments demonstrate the court relied on one unreversed conviction contained in the presentence investigation report (PSI) in sentencing Padavich, which was well within the court's discretion. At the sentencing hearing, the court made the following explanatory comments to Padavich after passing sentence: [THE COURT]: In connection with your sentence, I considered all the options set out in [s]ection 901.5, and, of course, my judgment was based upon that which would provide maximum opportunity for your rehabilitation and at the same time protect the community from further offenses by you and others. But to be more specificand I think you're entitled to a specific explanation; I think all defendants areis that I looked at your record or the presentence report, and I, of course, noted the things that the statute tells us to consider, and that is your age which I think was 30, if I remember correctly, that you're not married and have no children and that your only employment I think for the last five and a half years was self-employment on the farm, and I think there was some evidence of that on the trial that you were probably farming with your dad, but I'm not saying you didn't have some pay for employment other than your father. First of all, when I look at this, it's the nature of the offense. I guess that bothers me, and I can't think of a crime that probably does more damage to society than the delivery of drugs. And the problem is not just the delivery of drugs. It's what happened when it occurs, and it leads to more crimes. And after you get through with that, it generally leads to some violence. In substance, it's simply put that I can't think of a crime that has more damage to us in society. I took a very close look at your record and your criminal offenses. And I knew about your conviction. I didn't try your case back on '82? I don't think, I did. [THE DEFENDANT]: No, sir. [THE COURT]: And I know that was reversed, and I see a lot of police reversals, and I'm not paying a lot of attention to police reversals. I don't think that's adequate. But I wanted to speak a little bit to what your counsel indicated about after your two felonies were reversed, you in essence wind up with no felonies or convictions. The problem with that thinking from my standpoint is your record reflects something to me. There's some violence in this record which is very, very disturbing. I'm talking about your assault with intent, and that's disturbing in combination with the charges that you have. I just didn't think that putting you on probation would do any good because you've had some difficulty with the law. And you are not rehabilitated, so I had no reason to assume that somehow being placed on probation would magically rehabilitate you. I'm not sure that you've got a fixed idea in your own mind that you wanted to be rehabilitated. And if you don't, I don't think you will be. Lastly, I don't think the community would be protected when you're on probation. And I know your counsel has indicated otherwise, and he may be right, but I can only go from your record. And this record is going to keep on following you around all your life, so at some point in time, you're going to have to make a determination that you're not going to be involved with violations of the law. But at any rate, that's the reason for the [c]ourt's sentence, and I wanted you to be aware of that. The PSI reveals Padavich was convicted in 1982 for one count of burglary, second offense, and one count of theft, third offense. These convictions were reversed by the court of appeals in State v. Padavich, 344 N.W.2d 733 (Iowa Ct.App.1983) (Table). Padavich was also convicted of assault with intent. This conviction was not reversed. The record clearly reflects that the court did not consider Padavich's record of reversed convictions in sentencing. Rather, the court based its sentence on the combination of the current charges and Padavich's one unreversed conviction for assault with intent. The court had discretion to consider this conviction in sentencing Padavich. See State v. Peters, 525 N.W.2d 854, 860 (Iowa 1994) (court can consider past convictions contained in presentence report in sentencing). We conclude that, contrary to Padavich's allegation, the court avoided consideration of Padavich's two reversed convictions in sentencing him.