Court Opinion

ID: 4709015
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-04 15:06:55.136628+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:53.899203
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                  No. 20-0257
                              Filed August 4, 2021

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

KORKI RICOH WILBOURN,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marshall County, John J. Haney,

Judge.

      Wilbourn appeals his sentence following a guilty plea and imposition of

sentence that adopted the plea agreement of the parties.       Wilbourn further

requests a correction of the discrepancy between the district court’s oral and

written pronouncement of sentence. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.

      Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Mary K. Conroy, Assistant

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Israel Kodiaga, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee.

      Considered by Mullins, P.J., and May and Schumacher, JJ.
                                         2

SCHUMACHER, Judge.

         Korki Wilbourn appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty pleas,

arguing the district court abused its discretion by failing to consider or understand

its discretion to reduce his mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Iowa Code

sections 901.11(1) and 124.413(3) (2019) and asks the district court to correct a

discrepancy between its oral and written pronouncement of sentence. Because

judgment was entered after July 1, 2019, Wilbourn has no right to appeal his guilty

plea, and because he has failed to establish “good cause” to challenge his

sentences, we affirm.1 We find the discrepancy between the oral pronouncement

and the written sentencing order should be corrected through a nunc pro tunc

order.

         A.    “Good Cause” – Iowa Code Section 814.6

         In the 2019 legislative session, the general assembly amended Iowa Code

section 814.6(1) (2019). The amendment denies a defendant the right of appeal

from a guilty plea, except for a guilty plea to a class “A” felony or in a case where

1 The first approximately eighty-one pages of appellant’s brief concern Wilbourn’s
good cause arguments. The State does not contest “good cause.” However, we
chose to address the issue. Because the issues raised have been addressed by
Damme and its prodigy, we do not engage in additional discussion of those issues.
See State v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020) (finding “good cause exists
to appeal from a conviction following a guilty plea when the defendant challenges
his or her sentence rather than the guilty plea”); State v. Treptow, ___ N.W.2d ___,
___, 2021 WL 2172073, at *2 (Iowa May 28, 2021) (explaining “section 814.6
restricts only a narrow class of defendants from pursuing a direct appeal as a
matter of right: those who plead guilty to non-class A offenses and cannot articulate
a legally sufficient reason to pursue a direct appeal. In other words, section 814.6
prohibits those who plead guilty to non-class A offenses from pursuing frivolous
appeals as a matter of right.”) (quotations omitted); State v. Tucker, ___ N.W.2d
___, ___, 2021 WL 1822905, at *4–7 (Iowa May 7, 2021) (finding section 814.6
does not violate federal or state guarantees of equal protection of the laws and
does not improperly restrict the role and jurisdiction of Iowa’s appellate courts).
                                         3

a defendant establishes good cause. 2019 Iowa Acts ch. 140, § 28 (codified at

Iowa Code § 814.6(1)(a)(3) (2020)). The legislature also amended section 814.7,

eliminating direct-appeal ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims. See 2019 Iowa

Acts ch. 140, § 31 (codified at Iowa Code § 814.7). These amendments became

effective July 1, 2019. See Iowa Code § 3.7(1) (“All acts . . . shall take effect on

the first day of July following their passage, unless some other specified time is

provided.”). Our supreme court has held “that date of the judgment being appealed

controls the applicability of the amendment to section 814.6.” Damme, 944 N.W.2d

at 103 n.1. Wilbourn entered his guilty pleas on November 27, 2019, making the

amendments applicable to his appeal. See id. at 103 (“The amendment plainly

applies to Damme’s appeal because her judgment and sentence were entered on

July 1, 2019.”); Cf. State v. El-Amin, 952 N.W.2d 134, 137 n.1 (Iowa 2020)

(addressing ineffective-assistance claim for alleged lack of factual basis and

noting, “[b]ecause the district court entered El-Amin’s judgment of conviction and

sentence before July 1, 2019, this case is not governed by the amendments that

year to Iowa Code sections 814.6 and 814.7 restricting appeals from guilty pleas

and ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims”) (emphasis added); State v. Macke,

933 N.W.2d 226, 235 (Iowa 2019) (“We conclude the absence of retroactivity

language in sections 814.6 and 814.7 means those provisions apply only

prospectively and do not apply to cases pending on July 1, 2019.”).

      Pursuant to a plea agreement, Wilbourn entered guilty pleas to an amended

charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in violation of Iowa

Code section 124.401(1)(b)(7) and 124.413, and failure to affix a drug-tax-stamp

in violation of sections 453B.3, 453B.1(3)(a)(1), 453B.1(10) and 453B.12.
                                          4

Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver is a class “B” felony and

carries an indeterminate sentence not to exceed twenty-five years. Iowa Code

§ 902.9(1)(b). Failure to affix a drug-tax-stamp is a class “D” felony and mandates

an indeterminate sentence not to exceed five years. Iowa Code § 902.9(1)(e).

       In exchange for his guilty pleas, the State dismissed Wilbourn’s other

charges.2 The parties agreed to jointly recommend that Wilbourn’s sentences run

consecutively for a total of thirty years. Additionally, because Wilbourn pled guilty,

the parties agreed to recommend the mandatory minimum sentence of the

possession charge be reduced by one-third pursuant to Iowa Code section

901.10(2). At the sentencing hearing on January 6, 2020, the State recited its

recommendation for Wilbourn’s sentence on the possession charge:

       This is a joint plea recommendation. On the B felony possession
       with intent to deliver, that is a 25-year term of incarceration with a
       mandatory minimum of one-third to be served. Due to Mr. Wilbourn’s
       acceptance of responsibility, his guilty plea, the parties agree to
       recommend a reduction of that mandatory minimum by an additional
       one-third of that one-third.

2 On September 17, 2019, the State charged Wilbourn through trial information
with: two counts of attempted murder, a class “B” felony, in violation of Iowa Code
sections 707.11; reckless use of a firearm, an aggravated misdemeanor, in
violation of section 724.30(1); going armed with intent, a class “D” felony, in
violation of section 708.8; intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class “C”
felony, in violation of section 708.6; felon in possession of a firearm, a class “D”
felony, in violation of section 724.26; possession of methamphetamine with intent
to deliver, a class “B” felony, in violation of sections 124.401(1)(b)(7) and 124.413,
with the sentencing enhancement of being in possession of a firearm, pursuant to
section 124.401(1)(e); failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a class “D” felony, in
violation of sections 453B.1, 453B.3, 453B.12; assault causing bodily injury, a
serious misdemeanor, in violation of sections 708.1 and 708.2(2); and driving while
revoked, a serious misdemeanor, in violation of section 321J.21. Initially, at
arraignment on October 4, Wilbourn entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges
and demanded a speedy trial.
                                          5

The court asked Wilbourn if the State had complied with the plea agreement, and

Wilbourn stated:

       It has, Judge, and we would—we would ask for the same
       recommendation. We think it’s appropriate given what’s the
       State’s—and also the family hardship issues. I believe the one-third
       additional reduction in under [section] 910.10 if the court wanted that.
              So—we would ask the court to follow that agreement.

       In the court’s oral pronouncement of sentence, the court explained its

reasons for imposing sentence, stating,

       I have considered all the sentencing options that are provided for in
       chapters 901 and 907 of the Iowa code . . . .
              . . . . And I’ve considered the recommendation that’s been
       made here.        This was a jointly recommended—or a joint
       recommendation by the State and the defense pursuant to a
       negotiated plea agreement in this case.

With regards to the mandatory minimum on the possession offense, the court

stated:

       I will recommend the reduction in the mandatory minimums of that
       sentence that has been negotiated as part of the plea agreement,
       which is basically a two-thirds reduction of that mandatory minimum
       I believe; one-third and one-third if I heard what the parties had
       recommended correctly.[3]

Additionally, in the court’s oral pronouncement, the court sentenced Wilbourn to

the minimum fine of $750, suspended, for the drug-tax-stamp offense.

3  We note the court’s explanation inaccurately describes the calculation of the
mandatory minimum as agreed upon by the parties. One-third of the maximum
indeterminate term is 8.334. (25 * (1/3)) = 8.334. A further reduction of this by
one-third is 5.556. [8.334 – ((1/3) * 8.334)] = 5.556. A “two-thirds reduction” of the
mandatory minimum would be 2.778. [8.334 – ((2/3) * 8.334)] = 2.778. However,
the context of the court’s statement makes clear the court was simply mistaken in
its articulation, and its intention is to give effect to the terms of the parties’
agreement that the mandatory minimum sentence should be calculated by
reducing the maximum indeterminate sentence by one-third, and that this
mandatory minimum should be further reduced by one-third pursuant to section
901.10(2).
                                        6

       The court issued a written sentencing order the same day. In the order, the

court stated its reasons for Wilbourn’s sentence, including his age, family

circumstances, employment history, criminal history, the nature of the offenses

committed, the underlying facts and circumstances, the need to protect the

community,    providing   an   opportunity   for   rehabilitation,   and   “the   joint

recommendation of the parties, and the negotiated plea agreement.” Concerning

the mandatory minimum sentence on the possession charge, the written

sentencing order stated: “The Defendant shall serve the mandatory minimum

sentence described in Iowa Code Section 124.413, reduced to the maximum

extent possible described in Iowa Code Section 901.10(2).”           Additionally, the

written sentencing order imposed a suspended fine of $5000 on the drug-tax-

stamp offense.

       On January 15, the State filed a motion for an order nunc pro tunc. The

motion explained that the prosecutor “was contacted by the Iowa Department of

Corrections seeking clarification of the defendant’s mandatory minimum sentence

and reduction.” The motion further stated the prosecutor spoke to defense counsel

and:

             [I]t is the parties mutual understanding that . . . [the
       possession-with-intent charge’s] sentence carries a mandatory
       minimum term of confinement of 1/3 the maximum indeterminate
       sentence prescribed by law, and that under Iowa Code 901.10(2),
       this mandatory term of confinement should be reduced by 1/3
       considering that the Defendant entered a guilty plea in this matter.

Later that day, the district court, based on the agreement of the parties, entered

an order nunc pro tunc stating:

       Under Iowa Code 124.413(1), the Defendant shall not be eligible for
       parole or work release until he has served a minimum term of
                                        7

      confinement of one-third of the maximum indeterminate sentence
      provided by law; however, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 901.10(2),
      as the Defendant has entered a guilty plea, this mandatory minimum
      term of confinement is reduced by one-third.

Wilbourn filed an appeal on January 31, 2020.

      Because Wilbourn did not file a motion in arrest of judgment, he has waived

any procedural defects in the plea proceeding. Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.24(3)(a) (“A

defendant’s failure to challenge the adequacy of a guilty plea proceeding by motion

in arrest of judgment shall preclude the defendant’s right to assert such challenge

on appeal.”). Further, Wilbourn does not seek to set aside his guilty plea. With

respect to his challenge to his sentences, Damme forecloses a finding of good

cause. 944 N.W.2d at 105. In Damme, the supreme court held good cause exists

to appeal from a conviction following a guilty plea when “the defendant challenges

his or her sentence rather than the guilty plea. Damme received a discretionary

sentence that was neither mandatory nor agreed to as part of her plea bargain,

and she is appealing that sentence and asking for resentencing without

challenging her guilty plea or conviction.” Id. (emphasis added); see also State v.

Thompson, 951 N.W.2d 1, 2 (Iowa 2020) (explaining that in Damme, “We held that

a defendant who is not challenging her guilty plea or conviction has good cause to

appeal an alleged sentencing error when the sentence was neither mandatory nor

agreed to in the plea bargain.” (emphasis added)).

      “[The defendant] bears the burden of establishing good cause to pursue an

appeal of [his] conviction based on a guilty plea.” State v. Boldon, 954 N.W.2d 62,

69 (Iowa 2021) (quotation omitted). In Damme, “[t]he district court imposed a

nonmandatory sentence that was outside of the range agreed to by the parties in
                                           8

the plea agreement.” 944 N.W.2d at 105. Here, Wilbourn agreed to the imposition

of his current sentences as part of his plea agreement.4 For these reasons, we

affirm.5 See State v. Riley, No. 19-1317, 2021 WL 1662419, at *1–2 (Iowa Ct. App.

April 28, 2021), further review denied (June 28, 2021).

       Therefore, we do not engage in a lengthy discussion on the application of

the sentencing options under Iowa Code sections 123.413(1) and 901.10(2).

Wilbourn argues for a new sentencing hearing because he alleges the district court

was not aware of its discretion under sections 123.413(3) and 901.11(1).

However, the record is clear that the court was adopting the parties’

recommendation that Wilbourn’s sentence be imposed pursuant to sections

123.413(1) and 901.10(2).      The court was not required to explicitly reject its

4
  We note a written plea agreement is not included as a part of the record. Where
the sentencing court is adopting the agreed-upon terms of a plea agreement, the
sentence imposed is “not the product of the exercise of trial court discretion but of
the process of giving effect to the parties’ agreement.” State v. Snyder, 336
N.W.2d 728, 729 (Iowa 1983). For our court to find the sentencing court was acting
with no discretion, the plea agreement is necessary for our review. See State v.
Thacker, 862 N.W.2d 402, 410 (Iowa 2015). The record absent a written plea
agreement shows that the sentencing court was adopting the parties’ agreement,
and Wilbourn does not argue he received a sentence other than that which was
negotiated as part of the plea agreement. Wilbourn raises an abuse of discretion
argument; however, as we find Wilbourn has not established good cause, we need
not address the issue.
5 Wilbourn asks that if we do not find good cause for his appeal that we treat his

notice of appeal and brief as an application for discretionary review. A defendant
may request appellate review by filing an application for discretionary review
pursuant to Iowa Code section 814.6(2) and Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure
6.106. Iowa courts have “inherent power to determine whether [they] have
jurisdiction over the subject matter of the proceedings before it.” State v. Propps,
897 N.W.2d 91, 97 (Iowa 2017). Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.108 provides,
“If any case is initiated by a notice of appeal . . . and the appellate court determines
another form of review was the proper one, the case shall not be dismissed, but
shall proceed as though the proper form of review had been requested.” We
decline to exercise discretionary review in this case.
                                           9

discretion under sections 123.413(3) and 901.11(1). See State v. Thomas, 547

N.W.2d 223, 225 (Iowa 1996) (explaining a sentencing court is generally “not

required to give its reasons for rejecting particular sentencing options.”); see also

State v. Breeding, No. 17-1478, 2019 WL 1940723, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. May 21,

2019) (finding no abuse of discretion where the sentencing court failed to state

reasons for not reducing a mandatory minimum sentence under section 124.413(3)

because the court had no discretion as section 901.10(2), barring any reduction in

sentence, controls as a specific statute applicable to defendants who plead guilty

to   violations    of   section     124.401(1)(b)     involving    amphetamine       or

methamphetamine).

       B.     Drug Tax Stamp Fine

       In its oral pronouncement of sentencing, the district court imposed a fine of

$750 related to Wilbourn’s drug-tax-stamp violation. However, the court’s written

order imposed a fine of $5000. When a written judgment differs from the oral

pronouncement of sentence, the oral pronouncement controls. State v. Hess, 533

N.W.2d 525, 528 (Iowa 1995). “When the record unambiguously reflects that a

clerical error has occurred, [this court] will direct the district court to enter a nunc

pro tunc order to correct the judgment entry. Id. at 527. The State acknowledges

the error and suggests the district court correct the discrepancy by issuing a nunc

pro tunc order to reflect its oral pronouncement. We agree.

       C.     Conclusion

       As Wilbourn has failed to establish good cause following a guilty plea and

the imposition of an agreed-upon sentence, we affirm. However, the discrepancy
                                         10

in the fine imposed for Wilbourn’s drug-tax-stamp violation should be corrected by

the district court by the entry of a nunc pro tunc order.

       AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.