Opinion ID: 2090262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Restitution Award: Iowa Code section 910.3B.

Text: In addition to the five-year indeterminate sentence and pecuniary damage restitution award, the district court entered an additional restitution award payable to Flowers' estate in the amount of $150,000 pursuant to section 910.3B. See Iowa Code § 910.3B(1) (Supp.1997). Rohm argues the imposition of this additional restitution award violates her constitutional right against excessive fines. She also challenges the statute on due process grounds based upon her inability to challenge the amount of the award.
Rohm argues the award pursuant to section 910.3B, on its face, violates the federal and Iowa constitutions' guarantees against excessive fines. See U.S. Const. amend. VIII; Iowa Const. art. I, § 17. We have recently addressed this issue in State v. Izzolena, 609 N.W.2d 541, 547-48 (Iowa 2000). For the same reasons found in that decision we find the award under section 910.3B does not constitute an excessive fine. Rohm also argues the statute, when applied to the facts of her case, violates her right to be free of excessive fines. She claims the award is grossly disproportionate to her conduct. We recently addressed this very issue in State v. Klawonn, 609 N.W.2d 515, 518 (Iowa 2000); however due to the fact-specific nature of the analysis, we will address it separately here. Rohm contends the gravity of the offense was diminished because her conduct was passive and she lacked any intent to cause harm. She also asserts her limited financial means should be considered in determining whether the minimum amount of the restitution under the statute is excessive. We have already addressed the seriousness of the conduct engaged in by Rohm. Although her conduct was passive in the sense that she did not participate in the consumption of liquor with the minors, she was the source or supplier of the liquor. She supplied large amounts of liquor, some with very high levels of alcohol. There was also evidence to support a finding she knew the liquor was being consumed. Whether passive or active, her conduct was extremely serious under the circumstances of the case. We addressed the impact of the financial burden on the offender as it relates to the amount of the penalty in Klawonn. See Klawonn, 609 N.W.2d at 518. For the reasons expressed in our opinion in Klawonn, we conclude the financial burden visited upon Rohm would not make the restitution award grossly disproportionate to the offense.
Rohm argues section 910.3B violates the basic tenets of due process by failing to provide a procedure to challenge the imposition or the amount of the award. We recently decided in Izzolena that section 910.3B does not constitute a violation of procedural due process. See Izzolena, 609 N.W.2d at 546. For the same reasoning found in that decision we find section 910.3B does not violate Rohm's due process rights. [6]