Opinion ID: 1825230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Instruction on habitual offender.

Text: Defendant argues trial court erred in instructing the jury in the habitual offender proceeding that defendant had just been convicted of a class C felony. Section 902.8, Supplement to the Code 1977, defines habitual offender as any person convicted of a class `C' or a class `D' felony, who has twice before been convicted of any felony in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States. Defendant contends the contemporaneous felony conviction is an essential element of the issue before the jury which the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. He argues whether he has just been convicted of a class C or D felony is a jury question. We do not agree. Iowa R.Crim.P. 18(9) is dispositive: After conviction of the primary or current offense, but prior to pronouncement of sentence, if the indictment or information alleges one or more prior convictions which by the Code subjects the offender to an increased sentence, the offender shall have the opportunity in open court to affirm or deny that he or she is identical with the person previously convicted, or that he or she was not represented by counsel and did not waive counsel. If the offender denies he or she is the person previously convicted, sentence shall be postponed for such time as to permit a trial before a jury on the issue of the offender's identity with the person previously convicted. Other objections shall be heard and determined by the court, and these other objections shall be asserted prior to trial of the substantive offense in the manner presented in rule 10 [of the rules of criminal procedure]. On the issue of identity, the court may in its discretion reconvene the jury which heard the current offense or dismiss that jury and submit the issue to another jury to be later impaneled. If the offender is found by the jury to be the person previously convicted, or if the offender acknowledged that he or she is such person, the offender shall be sentenced as prescribed in the Code. (Emphasis added.) The habitual offender statute does not create a crime, it merely enhances punishment. State v. Hanna, 277 N.W.2d 605, 608 (Iowa 1979). If a defendant claims it is inapplicable, the sole issue submitted to a jury is defendant's identity as a person twice previously convicted of a felony. Other objections, such as whether a triggering class C or D felony is involved in the first instance, shall be heard and determined by the court. See Uniform Jury Instruction 2901. The authorities defendant relies on do not hold the State must prove the triggering conviction. Defendant has demonstrated no error in the procedure by which he was found to be a habitual offender.