Opinion ID: 2216780
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Did trial court give an improper sentence?

Text: Trial court sentenced defendant to confinement for a period of two years, the maximum period permissible for a violation of section 707.5(2). § 903.1(1), Supplement to the Code 1977. Defendant challenges this sentence on two grounds: its failure to include reasons on the record for the sentence, as required by Iowa R.Crim.P. 22(3)(d), and its inconsistency with the guidelines for selecting sentencing options, given in section 901.5. Before we can address defendant's second ground, which is essentially an abuse of discretion argument, we must first know trial court's reasons for imposing the two-year sentence. This was recognized in State v. Luedtke, 279 N.W.2d 7, 8 (Iowa 1979). Accordingly, Luedtke held that when a trial court fails to state on the record its reasons for the sentence imposed, the sentence must be vacated and the case remanded for amplification of the record and resentencing. Accord, State v. Pierce, 287 N.W.2d 570, 575 (Iowa 1980). Contrary to the State's assertion, we do not believe trial court's error in failing to state reasons for the sentence was waived by defendant's not alerting trial court to the matter. Defendant had no way of knowing before the court entered the judgment whether or not reasons would be stated in the record. See Iowa R.Crim.P. 22(3)(d). At that point, the litigation had terminated. As defendant had no opportunity to preserve error, we could not, in fairness, hold that he waived it. Cf. State v. Fortier, 20 Or.App. 613, 615-16, 533 P.2d 187, 188 (1975) (error preserved as defendant could not have anticipated that court would apply allegedly wrong standard of review until after court had rendered its decision). Consequently, we hold that the remedy announced in Luedtke for trial court's error in failing to state its reasons for the sentence applies here. Defendant, of course, has the right to appeal from his new sentence, if he so desires. § 814.6(1)(a), Supplement to the Code 1977. CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.