Opinion ID: 2033799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Were the sentencing procedure and the sentence lawful?

Text: The State concedes this case must be remanded for resentencing because trial court failed to state its reasons for the sentence on the record as required by Iowa R.Crim.P. 22(3)(d). See State v. Luedtke, 279 N.W.2d 7, 8 (Iowa 1979). The judgment entered in this case sentenced defendant to pay a fine of $5,000, failing payment of which the Defendant shall serve one (1) day in the Polk County Jail for each $10 of fine unpaid. Defendant had been represented throughout the trial by the public offender advocate. During sentencing the offender advocate was appointed to represent defendant on appeal. There is no dispute about his indigency. Consequently, the sentence imposed was unconstitutional. The result is to create two classes of convicted defendants indistinguishable from each other except that one is able to pay the fine and can avoid imprisonment, and the second cannot satisfy the fine and therefore cannot escape imprisonment. State v. Snyder, 203 N.W.2d 280, 287 (Iowa 1972). We affirm in part, vacate the judgment, and remand for resentencing. AFFIRMED IN PART; JUDGMENT VACATED AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.