Opinion ID: 1805505
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Restitution Claim.

Text: Earnest's second letter to the court challenged the court's authority to require payment of restitution for crimes to which he did not plead guilty. Restitution is purely a creature of statute in Iowa. See Iowa Code ch. 910. Section 910.2 requires payment of restitution to victims of the defendant's criminal activities in all criminal cases where guilt is established except simple misdemeanors under chapter 321. Criminal activities means any crime for which there is a plea of guilty, verdict of guilty, or special verdict upon which a judgment of conviction is rendered and any other crime ... which is admitted or not contested by the offender, whether or not prosecuted. Id. § 910.1(3). We have held that a restitution order need not be limited to the parameters of the offense to which the defendant enters a guilty plea. State v. Holmberg, 449 N.W.2d 376, 377 (Iowa 1989). To order restitution there must be a causal connection between the established criminal act and the damages to the victim. Id.; see also State v. Wagner, 484 N.W.2d 212, 216 (Iowa App.1992). Here, the record shows that Earnest either admitted or failed to contest restitution on the other criminal charges. Following his sentencing, Earnest filed two separate complaints concerning restitution. A hearing was held on the second complaint. No appeal was taken. Earnest has not shown a sufficient reason for his failure to raise the restitution issue on direct appeal. He cannot now take a second appeal under the guise of postconviction relief. Moreover, section 663A.2(7) provides in part that a conviction or sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack upon any ground of alleged error formerly available under any common law, statutory or other writ, motion, petition, proceeding, or remedy, except alleged error relating to restitution, court costs, or fees under section 246.702 or chapter 815 or 910. (Emphasis added.) We hold that this subsection unambiguously excludes claims relating to restitution in postconviction proceedings. Any alleged errors relating to restitution must be resolved on direct appeal or in a chapter 910 proceeding. See Iowa Code § 910.7. Section 910.7 provides a defendant an avenue to challenge a restitution order if the time for appeal from the original sentence has expired. State v. Janz, 358 N.W.2d 547, 549 (Iowa 1984). Earnest was granted a section 910.7 hearing, but he took no appeal from the ruling. We have considered all issues presented on appeal and conclude that summary disposition of the application for postconviction relief was properly granted. AFFIRMED.