Court Opinion

ID: 4210764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-11 15:09:49.268256+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:45:30.754240
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 16-1369
                             Filed October 11, 2017

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

LLOYD R. HAYWOOD,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

       Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, Thomas A.

Bitter, Judge.

       Lloyd Haywood appeals four convictions following his guilty pleas to two

charges and jury verdicts finding him guilty of two lesser-included charges.

       JUDGMENT AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART,

SENTENCE AFFIRMED IN PART AND VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED

WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

       Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Mary K. Conroy, Assistant

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

       Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Darrel Mullins, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee.

       Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Doyle and Bower, JJ.
                                          2

DOYLE, Judge.

       In 2015, Lloyd Haywood was charged by trial information with seven

crimes relating to two separate incidents that occurred the same day.           The

charges were later severed into two matters to be tried separately. Haywood

elected to have a jury trial on the offenses relating to the first incident. The jury

found Haywood guilty of two lesser-included offenses and acquitted Haywood of

the three other counts. Haywood later pled guilty to the two severed charges

related to the second, later incident. He now appeals his convictions. We affirm

in part, reverse in part, vacate in part, and remand with instructions.

       I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

       Concerning the first incident, “[v]iewing the trial evidence in the light most

favorable to the jury’s guilty verdicts,” State v. Romer, 832 N.W.2d 169, 172-73

(Iowa 2013), the jury could have found the following facts in support of their two

convictions. In October 2015, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the

home of Gina Harkey, Haywood’s then girlfriend, after several 9-1-1 calls were

made about an ongoing physical disturbance occurring outside her home.

Officers learned Haywood lived with Harkey and there had been an altercation

involving Haywood, Harkey, and Harkey’s two daughters. Harkey’s daughters

had come to their mother’s home with a plan to get Harkey to leave with them

and away from Haywood. Ultimately, Haywood was arrested and transported to

the Dubuque County jail.

       The second incident occurred after Haywood arrived at the jail and

Dubuque County Deputy Sheriff Sara Miller had begun the process of booking

Haywood.     The minutes of testimony indicate the deputy was documenting
                                          3

information into the computer, and she and Haywood “were separated only by a

tabletop/counter.”    Towards the end of the booking process, Haywood “was

venting his frustrations with the arresting officers, . . . pacing back and forth near

the bench in the booking room [and] speaking in a loud and agitated tone about

police officers.”    Next, “while Haywood was standing directly in front of [the

deputy], . . . Haywood made the comment something similar to ‘You guys have

always been good to me . . . .’ Haywood then took two small steps back and

proceeded to retrieve a knife from his person.” The knife was described as a

“small folding pocket knife.” While

       holding the knife in his left hand at chest level, . . . [Haywood] then
       stated, “The f*cking guys in blue are so dumb, they can’t even find
       this knife. . . .” Haywood then took two steps forward towards the
       counter and towards Deputy Miller and violently stabbed the
       countertop with the knife. . . . Haywood used such force that it
       caused the knife to penetrate the wood and remain lodged in the
       countertop. . . .    Haywood then walked back away from the
       countertop at which time Deputy Miller removed the knife and
       requested assistance. . . . Haywood went on to tell Deputy Miller,
       “You know, I could have taken you hostage and got out of jail. . . .”
       Deputy Miller continued to [complete] the booking process and
       asked Haywood where he had concealed the knife . . . . Haywood
       replied the knife was in his back left pocket. . . . [Deputy Miller was
       asked] . . . if she was in fear for her safety given Haywood’s
       action. . . . Deputy Miller responded, “Yes,” . . . [she] was afraid
       that Haywood was going to assault her with the knife due to the
       violent and aggressive behavior he demonstrated when he stabbed
       the countertop along with the multitude of comments he was
       making while venting his frustrations with officers about his arrest.

       In addition to public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor, Haywood was

subsequently charged by trial information with seven counts, five of which were

related to his actions at Harkey’s home (“domestic disturbance”): first-degree

burglary, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, and three counts of first-
                                           4

degree harassment.1 The other two criminal counts—assault with the use or

display of a dangerous weapon and first-degree harassment—were based upon

Haywood’s actions at the jail (“jail disturbance”). Haywood filed a motion seeking

to sever the charges and have two separate trials set, one for the counts related

to the domestic disturbance, and one for the counts related to the jail

disturbance. Following a hearing, the court severed the two matters and ordered

two separate trials before different juries.

       Haywood proceeded to trial on the five counts relating to the domestic

disturbance in April 2016. The jury found Haywood guilty of only two of the

counts, and in both instances, the jury found Haywood guilty of lesser-included

offenses of domestic abuse assault (without bodily injury) and third-degree

harassment. Haywood was acquitted of first-degree burglary and the two first-

degree harassment charges related to Harkey’s daughters. That day, the court

entered a “Reset Order” setting dates for a pretrial conference and a jury trial in

May 2016 concerning the two jail-disturbance counts.

       Sentencing on the convictions relating to the domestic disturbance was

continued several times, as was the trial concerning the jail-disturbance counts.

On the date set for a pretrial conference concerning the jail-disturbance counts—

August 1, 2016—Haywood entered into a written agreement with the State,

agreeing he would plead guilty to the two jail-disturbance counts in exchange for

dismissal of the public-intoxication charge and a favorable sentencing

recommendation by the State. Haywood admits in his brief that, in signing the

1
 Harkey and her two daughters were each named as the victim in separate first-degree
harassment charges.
                                           5

guilty-plea form, he agreed the minutes of testimony were substantially correct. 2

The form also stated, in relevant part, “DEFENDANT WILL PAY THE

FOLLOWING COURT COSTS: Domestic, 3D Degree harasment assault while

Display 1st Harassment, Public Intox.”

       The sentencing hearing was held as scheduled and reported. The court

stated at the outset that Haywood’s two convictions relating to the domestic

disturbance—domestic abuse assault without bodily injury, second offense, an

aggravated     misdemeanor,       and     third-degree     harassment,      a    simple

misdemeanor—were set for sentencing that day. The court went on to state:

       In addition, two of the other counts in the trial information [relating
       to the jail disturbance] had been severed out and were not tried to
       the jury, and since then [Haywood] has reached an agreement with
       the State.         The State’s going to make a sentencing
       recommendation. [Haywood] has pled to [the two jail-disturbance
       counts]. [One count] is charged as assault with the use or display
       of a dangerous weapon . . . .
              ....
              [T]hat’s an aggravated misdemeanor, and then [the other
       count] is harassment in the first degree, also an aggravated
       misdemeanor, and there is a written guilty plea that [Haywood]
       signed and was filed on August 1st of 2016. So if I’m right, we’re
       dealing with one simple misdemeanor and three aggravateds for
       sentencing today.

Haywood’s counsel affirmed that Haywood had pled guilty to the jail-disturbance

charges and that the court had accurately classified Haywood’s four convictions.

2
  We note that the paragraph relating to reliance upon the minutes of testimony in the
filed written guilty plea appears in the appellate record as follows:

We do not know if the original form signed by Haywood is as it appears in the record—
cut off and formally missing a numbered paragraph ten—or if it was only missing from
the copy filed electronically. Nevertheless, Haywood does not argue his pleas were
made unknowingly or unwillingly here. We only point the matter out to reinforce to trial
attorneys and district courts the necessity of ensuring the electronic trial record is
complete when scanned documents are added to the trial record.
                                          6

After hearing from Haywood and the State, the court sentenced Haywood to a

term of incarceration not to exceed two years on each of the three aggravated-

misdemeanor convictions, to be served concurrently, but the court suspended

the sentences and placed Haywood on informal probation for two years.

Haywood was sentenced to thirty days on the simple-misdemeanor conviction

and credited with time served.

       Haywood now appeals.3

       II. Discussion.

       Through his appellate counsel, Haywood argues his trial counsel rendered

ineffective assistance when he allowed him to plead guilty, asserting there was

no factual basis to support his guilty pleas. He also argues through counsel that

the district court abused its discretion when it denied his motion for a mistrial,

maintaining he was denied a fair trial when the State, in violation of the court’s

motion-in-limine ruling, presented a video containing a statement concerning

Haywood’s alleged drug use.4 Additionally, Haywood asserts numerous pro se

claims.5 The State resists. We address the arguments in turn.

3
  We note the Iowa Supreme Court granted discretionary review of Haywood’s simple-
misdemeanor conviction pursuant to Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.108 and
consolidated the appeal.
4
  Haywood’s appellate counsel also raises two other issues—the validity of Haywood’s
second-offense stipulation and the costs assessed by the court. The State concedes
both issues have merit and warrant reversing and remanding with respect to those
issues. We agree and will address the points in our closing without further discussion.
5
  Haywood also recently filed pro se his “Motion to Reverse Appeal Pursuant to Iowa
App. P. 6.1006(3),” which we denied by order filed September 15, 2017. On September
27, 2017, Haywood filed a second “Motion to Reverse” pursuant to rule 6.1006(3) which
we have denied in this opinion.
                                          7

       A. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel.

       Ordinarily, challenges to guilty pleas are reviewed for correction of errors

at law. See State v. Nall, 894 N.W.2d 514, 517 (Iowa 2017). “However, to the

extent a defendant claims [the] guilty plea was the result of trial counsel’s

ineffective assistance, our review is de novo.”          Id.   Although ineffective-

assistance-of-counsel claims are usually addressed in postconviction-relief

proceedings, they can be considered on direct appeal if the record is adequate.

See State v. Harris, 891 N.W.2d 182, 186 (Iowa 2017). We conclude the record

is adequate here. To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a

defendant must prove “by a preponderance of evidence that ‘(1) his trial counsel

failed to perform an essential duty, and (2) this failure resulted in prejudice.’” Id.

at 185 (citation omitted). If Haywood cannot establish both elements, his claim

fails; thus, if we find one element lacking, we need not address the other

element. See State v. Schlitter, 881 N.W.2d 380, 388 (Iowa 2016); State v.

Lopez, 872 N.W.2d 159, 169 (Iowa 2015).

       “A defendant waives a variety of constitutional rights by pleading guilty to

a criminal offense, and it is fundamental that a plea of guilty is valid only if it is

given voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently.” State v. Meron, 675 N.W.2d 537,

542 (Iowa 2004). Accordingly, a guilty plea cannot be accepted by the court

“without first determining it is made voluntarily and intelligently and has a factual

basis.” State v. Harrington, 893 N.W.2d 36, 45 (Iowa 2017). If trial counsel

allows the defendant to plead guilty to a charge that lacks a factual basis,

“counsel has failed to perform an essential duty” and prejudice is presumed.

Nall, 894 N.W.2d at 525. “When a defendant alleges a factual basis did not exist
                                         8

to support his or her guilty plea, it is the court’s obligation to examine the entire

record to see if a factual basis for the guilty plea existed.” Yocum v. State, 891

N.W.2d 418, 419 (Iowa 2017). This includes consideration of the minutes of

testimony and the presentence investigation report. State v. Gines, 844 N.W.2d

437, 441 (Iowa 2014). Furthermore, “the record does not need to show the

totality of evidence necessary to support a guilty conviction, but it need only

demonstrate facts that support the offense.” State v. Ortiz, 789 N.W.2d 761, 768

(Iowa 2010).

       The two crimes at issue here are first-degree harassment and assault with

the use or display of a dangerous weapon.          Dissecting the first, a “person

commits harassment when the person, purposefully and without legitimate

purpose, has personal contact with another person, with the intent to threaten,

intimidate, or alarm that other person.” Iowa Code § 708.7(1)(b) (2015). The

crime is raised to the highest degree “when the person commits harassment

involving a threat to commit a forcible felony.” Id. § 708.7(2). Using the ordinary

meaning of the word, a “threat” means to “promise punishment, reprisal, or other

distress to” another. State v. Milner, 571 N.W.2d 7, 10 (Iowa 1997). “Threats

need not be explicit; they may be made by innuendo or suggestion” and need

only “be definite and understandable by a reasonable person of ordinary

intelligence.” State v. Crone, 545 N.W.2d 267, 271 (Iowa 1996). “Moreover, in

considering whether a reasonable person of ordinary intelligence would interpret

another’s statement as a threat, the statement is viewed in light of the

surrounding circumstances.” Milner, 571 N.W.2d at 10.
                                         9

       A “forcible felony” includes kidnapping.        See Iowa Code § 702.11.

Kidnapping occurs when a person

       confines a person or removes a person from one place to another,
       knowing that the person who confines or removes the other person
       has neither the authority nor the consent of the other to do so;
       provided, that to constitute kidnapping the act must be
       accompanied by one or more of the following:
              ....
              2. The intent to use such person as a shield or hostage.

Id. § 710.1.

       So, putting all of this together, to show a factual basis for first-degree

harassment in this case, the minutes of testimony must evidence Haywood: (1)

purposefully and without legitimate purpose had personal contact with Deputy

Miller, (2) with the specific intent to threaten, intimidate, or alarm Deputy Miller,

and (3) threatened to commit a forcible felony (kidnapping). We find the minutes

satisfy this burden. Haywood essentially argues his words to Deputy Miller that

he “could have taken [her] hostage and got out of jail” was not an actual threat

but rather an expression of his frustration at the arresting officers and does not

show an intent to intimidate, alarm, or annoy Deputy Miller.            But viewing

Haywood’s statement in light of the surrounding circumstances—i.e., his pulling

an undisclosed pocket knife from his person and stabbing it deep in the counter

in front of Deputy Miller—a reasonably intelligent person would—and Deputy

Miller did—interpret Haywood’s statement as a threat of kidnapping intended to

alarm, intimidate, or annoy her.

       Haywood’s second conviction—assault with the use or display of a

dangerous weapon—occurs when a person intentionally “displays in a
                                       10

threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another” without justification.

Id. § 708.1(2)(c). The term “dangerous weapon” encompasses

      any instrument or device designed primarily for use in inflicting
      death or injury upon a human being or animal, and which is capable
      of inflicting death upon a human being when used in the manner for
      which it was designed . . . . Additionally, any instrument or device
      of any sort whatsoever which is actually used in such a manner as
      to indicate that the defendant intends to inflict death or serious
      injury upon the other, and which, when so used, is capable of
      inflicting death upon a human being, is a dangerous weapon.
      Dangerous weapons include but are not limited to any offensive
      weapon, pistol, revolver, or other firearm, dagger, razor, stiletto,
      switchblade knife, knife having a blade exceeding five inches in
      length . . . .

Id. § 702.7; see also Ortiz, 789 N.W.2d at 767 (breaking down the definition of

“dangerous weapons” in section 702.7 into three categories: instruments that

were both designed for and have “the primary purpose of inflicting death or

injury” but are not listed in section 702.7; per se dangerous weapons that are

specifically listed in section 702.7; and instruments that, while not designed for

the primary purpose of inflicting death or injury, were capable of and actually

used in a manner as to indicate that the defendant intended to inflict death or

serious injury upon the other). A “serious injury” is a bodily injury that either

creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or

causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or

organ. Id. § 702.18. A pocket knife is neither a per se dangerous weapon nor a

weapon designed for and having “the primary purpose of inflicting death or

injury.” Consequently, to show a factual basis for assault with the use or display

of a dangerous weapon, the minutes of testimony must evidence Haywood

displayed in a threatening manner an instrument that was capable of inflicting
                                          11

death or serious injury upon Deputy Miller and did so in a manner that indicated

he intended to inflict death or serious injury upon Deputy Miller.

       “Practical experience tells us that a box cutter or utility knife when so

intended is capable of inflicting death.” Ortiz, 789 N.W.2d at 767. The same can

be concluded about a pocket knife. Finally, considering the circumstances of the

situation and Haywood’s hostage comment, a reasonable person could conclude

Haywood used the pocket knife in a manner that indicated he intended to, at a

minimum, seriously injure Deputy Miller. Thus, the pocket knife was a dangerous

weapon as defined in section 702.7.            Haywood’s pulling of an undisclosed

dangerous weapon from his person and stabbing it deep in the counter in front of

Deputy Miller certainly constitutes displaying the dangerous weapon in a

threatening manner.      For these reasons, we find the minutes of testimony

evidence a factual basis to support Haywood’s assault-with-the-use-or-display-of-

a-dangerous-weapon conviction.

       Because the minutes of testimony demonstrate facts that support both

offenses to which Haywood pled guilty, Haywood’s trial counsel was not

ineffective for permitting him to enter guilty pleas on that basis.

       B. Motion for Mistrial.

       Prior to trial on the five charges related to the domestic disturbance, both

Haywood and the State filed motions in limine. At the motion in limine hearing,

the district court did not rule definitively on Haywood’s request that his prior bad

acts, including prior drug use, be excluded from evidence. In its motion in limine,

the State requested that the State’s witnesses’ prior bad acts, including prior drug

use be excluded. Haywood resisted asserting the evidence “goes to the witness’
                                        12

credibility.” Haywood believed “the State is going to get into [his] past drug use

and why the relationship was what it was and had to do with [his] past drug use,

so it that’s fair game, then all of the witnesses that the State calls and their

repeated drug use, that should be fair game as well.” During the discussion of

this issue, the State represented to the court it had no intent of bringing up any

evidence of Haywood’s prior drug use.        The court commented evidence of

Haywood’s prior drug use “would be quite prejudicial,” but “if the door is opened

up and drug use starts getting talked about, I think it’s probably fair game that it

gets talked about with everybody, including nonparty witnesses. I’d rather it not,

unless it’s necessary.” With regard to Haywood’s credibility argument, the court

concluded

              But I’m not sure that you can impeach credibility or attack
       credibility just by saying you’ve used drugs, so I’m hesitant to say,
       yes, you can do that. I guess I would say hold off on that until we
       get a chance to look at that issue a little further.

       During testimony from one of the law enforcement officers, the video from

the officer’s squad-car camera that also captured the audio from the officer’s

body microphone was played for the jury. In that video, an exchange occurred

between an officer and one of Harkey’s daughters wherein the officer asked the

daughter if Haywood was on something. She told the officer, “Probably, he’s a

crack head.” The officer repeated, “He’s a crack head?” She answered, “He’s a

f*cking crack head.” In the background, Haywood can be heard yelling. The

challenged exchange lasted approximately seven seconds; this is all the jury

heard on the issue.
                                         13

       After the State rested, Haywood’s trial counsel moved for a mistrial

arguing the evidence violated the court’s motion-in-limine ruling excluding such

references. The State resisted, arguing the exchange was quick and not dwelled

upon. The court agreed and denied the motion, explaining:

               Based on the totality of what happened here that night, all of
       the different videos that the jury has seen, all of the witnesses that
       have testified, and there have been numerous police officers and
       [Harkey] and both of her daughters and [others], we’ve had a lot of
       witnesses, a lot of videos that we’ve watched and a lot of testimony,
       I don’t believe that that kind of a statement would be prejudicial and
       would rise to the level of a mistrial when we have the counts that
       we have charged here.

The court indicated it was hesitant to give the jury a limiting instruction on the

matter because it believed it would only draw attention to the brief exchange,

which may or may not have been heard by some of the jurors.              The court

requested Haywood and his counsel discuss whether a limiting instruction should

be given and let the court know if it was desired. There is no indication that a

limiting instruction was requested thereafter.

       Haywood argues the court abused its discretion in denying his motion for

a mistrial. “Generally, a trial court has wide discretion in granting or denying a

mistrial,” State v. Huser, 894 N.W.2d 472, 498 (Iowa 2017), as the court “is in the

best position to appraise the effect of any alleged misconduct.” State v. Frei, 831

N.W.2d 70, 80 (Iowa 2013). Generally, the court’s “discretion may be reversed

on appeal only when it is demonstrated” the trial court’s discretion “‘was

exercised on grounds or for reasons clearly untenable or to an extent clearly

unreasonable.’” Huser, 894 N.W.2d at 498 (citation omitted); see also State v.

Anderson, 448 N.W.2d 32, 33 (Iowa 1989). In the context of a motion for mistrial
                                        14

based upon a violation of a motion-in-limine ruling, to establish reversible error,

Haywood bears the burden of showing the violation resulted in prejudice that

deprived him of a fair trial. See Frei, 831 N.W.2d at 80-81.

      Upon our review of the record, considering the whole trial, we cannot find

an abuse of discretion in denying Haywood’s motion for a mistrial.         Several

factors demonstrate Haywood was not deprived of a fair trial. First, the alleged

bad act—prior drug use—is so unrelated to the charges at hand that they do not

tend to show conforming conduct. See State v. Martin, 704 N.W.2d 665, 673

(Iowa 2005). Moreover, the exchange containing the alleged prior drug use was

isolated; there were no other statements given nor efforts made to inject the

potentially prejudicial matter before the jury. See State v. Greene, 592 N.W.2d

24, 32 (Iowa 1999). In fact, the exchange was so isolated and brief, we agree

with the district court that a curative instruction would likely have only drawn

undue attention to the minor mention.        See, e.g., 4A B. John Burns, Iowa

Practice Series: Criminal Procedure § 19:3 (2017 ed.) (noting “counsel may

consider declining a curative instruction” for strategic reasons in some

circumstances “to avoid reinforcing the taint of the original mention”); Robert E.

Larsen, Navigating the Federal Trial § 4:12 (2017 ed.) (noting the “prejudiced

party may ask the judge to do nothing in response to a violation of an order in

limine” for tactical reasons, such as avoiding undue emphasis of the problem to

the jury). Finally, we note Haywood’s trial counsel was partially successful; the

jury acquitted Haywood of three charges and convicted on two lesser-included

charges. See State v. Taylor, 689 N.W.2d 116, 130 (Iowa 2004) (“We also note

the court acquitted the defendant of the kidnapping charge, an indication the bad-
                                         15

acts evidence did not motivate the fact finder to categorically rule against the

defendant.”); State v. Rodriquez, 636 N.W.2d 234, 243 n.4 (Iowa 2001) (noting

jury acquitted defendant of one offense, which indicated a lack of prejudice);

State v. Smith, 573 N.W.2d 14, 22 (Iowa 1997) (finding trial counsel was not

ineffective for not moving for a mistrial, noting, among other factors, counsel was

“partially successful, resulting in an acquittal on one charge and conviction on a

lesser included offense on another count”). Under the facts and circumstances

of this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a

mistrial.

       C. Pro Se Claims.

       Haywood also asserts several pro se claims, but he does not state how

error was preserved on each claim.            “Error preservation is a fundamental

principle of law with roots that extend to the basic constitutional function of

appellate courts.” Harrington, 893 N.W.2d at 42. “Its purpose is to allow the

district court to correct error without the necessity of an appeal,” and it further

“serves to create a record for appellate review.” Id. Consequently, “[i]ssues not

raised before the district court, including constitutional issues, cannot be raised

for the first time on appeal.” State v. Mitchell, 757 N.W.2d 431, 435 (Iowa 2008);

see also Lee v. State, 844 N.W.2d 668, 676-77 (Iowa 2014) (“As a general

proposition, ‘issues must be raised in the district court before we may review

them on appeal.’” (citation omitted)). There are, of course, exceptions to the rule.

For instance, the error-preservation rule generally does not apply “to void, illegal

or procedurally defective sentences.” State v. Richardson, 890 N.W.2d 609, 615

(Iowa 2017). Similarly, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel “are not bound
                                         16

by traditional error-preservation rules.” State v. Ondayog, 722 N.W.2d 778, 784

(Iowa 2006); see also Nguyen v. State, 878 N.W.2d 744, 750 (Iowa 2016) (“To

the extent error is not preserved on an issue, any objections must be raised

within an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel framework.”).

       Importantly, these rules apply to claims raised by pro se appellants. It has

long been the rule that procedural rules apply equally to parties who are

represented by counsel and to those who are not. In re Estate of DeTar, 572

N.W.2d 178, 180 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997) (“Substantial departures from appellate

procedures cannot be permitted on the basis that a non-lawyer is handling [his

or] her own appeal.”). Pro se parties receive no preferential treatment. See

Hays v. Hays, 612 N.W.2d 817, 819 (Iowa Ct. App. 2000). “The law does not

judge by two standards, one for lawyers and the other for lay persons. Rather,

all are expected to act with equal competence. If lay persons choose to proceed

pro se, they do so at their own risk.” Metro. Jacobson Dev. Venture v. Bd. of

Review, 476 N.W.2d 726, 729 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). Although this may seem

harsh to a pro se litigant, it is justified by the concept that appellate judges must

not be cast in the role of advocates for a party who fails to comply with court

rules and inadequately presents an appeal. See State v. Piper, 663 N.W.2d 894,

913-14 (Iowa 2003).

       Upon our review, we find Haywood only raised one of his pro se claims

before the district court—his claim that he was denied a preliminary hearing.

Haywood does not direct us to, nor do we find, evidence in the record showing

Haywood preserved his other claims for our review, and he does not cast those

claims here as ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims to obviate application of
                                         17

the ordinarily error-preservation rules. Consequently, we address the only issue

we find preserved for our review.

       Haywood argues he was denied a preliminary hearing in violation of his

constitutional rights and the district court should have granted the motion to

dismiss the trial information. Our review is for correction of errors at law. See

State v. Rimmer, 877 N.W.2d 652, 660 (Iowa 2016).

       Procedurally, an arrested person that is taken into custody “in the manner

authorized by law” is to be presented before a magistrate for an initial

appearance.    See Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.2(1); see also State v. Williams, 895

N.W.2d 856, 865 (Iowa 2017).          “Once the arrested person is before the

magistrate, the arrest process is complete, the person is no longer under the

control of the arresting officer, and all the rights under the law available to

defendants become applicable . . . .”     Williams, 895 N.W.2d at 865.        “If the

defendant . . . was arrested without a warrant, the magistrate shall, prior to

further proceedings in the case, make an initial, preliminary determination from

the complaint . . . whether there is probable cause to believe that an offense has

been committed and that the defendant has committed it.” Iowa R. Crim. P.

2.2(1). If the magistrate finds probable cause, the magistrate must advise the

defendant of several rights, including “the right to a preliminary hearing

unless . . . a trial information is filed against the defendant or unless preliminary

hearing is waived in writing or on the record.” Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.2(4)(a). If a

preliminary hearing is requested and no trial information has been filed, the

magistrate must schedule the hearing to “be held within a reasonable time but in
                                        18

any event not later than [ten] days following the initial appearance,” and the

magistrate must inform the inform the defendant of the date it set. Id.

      The key here is that rule 2.2(4)(a) does not contemplate holding a

preliminary hearing if a trial information has been filed. The purpose of a trial

“information is to apprise the defendant of the crime charged so that the

defendant may have the opportunity to prepare a defense.” State v. Grice, 515

N.W.2d 20, 22 (Iowa 1994). “Prior to the filing of the information, it must be

approved by a district judge, or a district associate judge or judicial magistrate”

after finding “the evidence contained in the information and the minutes of

evidence, if unexplained, would warrant a conviction by the trial jury.” Iowa R.

Crim. P. 2.5(4).    Thus, “[w]hen the court approves the trial information, it

determines whether there is probable cause to detain the defendant to answer

the charge.” State v. Petersen, 678 N.W.2d 611, 614 (Iowa 2004). A preliminary

hearing serves the same purpose; it “is required in order to determine the legality

of detaining a person accused of a felony or an indictable misdemeanor before

the State files a charge by a trial information or a grand jury indictment.” Id. at

613; see also State v. Shank, 296 N.W.2d 791, 792 (Iowa 1980). Consequently,

once the trial information is filed, having been approved by a judge, a preliminary

hearing is not necessary. See Petersen, 678 N.W.2d at 613.

      Here, Haywood was arrested on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Haywood

went before the district associate judge for an initial appearance the next

morning. The court found probable cause to believe Haywood had committed

the crimes that were charged in the complaints, and that day, as requested by

Haywood, the court set a preliminary hearing for October 22, 2015. However,
                                         19

the hearing on October 22 was not held.            Instead, the State filed a trial

information the next day, October 23, charging Haywood with seven counts with

a judge’s approval.

       October 22 is seven days from the date of his arrest by police; six days

from the date Haywood went before the magistrate. See Williams, 895 N.W.2d

at 867 (holding the speedy indictment rule “is triggered from the time a person is

taken into custody, but only when the arrest is completed by taking the person

before a magistrate for an initial appearance”); see also Iowa Code § 4.1(34)

(setting forth how to compute time). Though it is unclear why the preliminary

hearing did not occur as scheduled, once the State filed its trial information, the

preliminary hearing was unwarranted.

       Moreover, a “violation in the complaint stage of the proceedings does not

affect the merits of the charge, but only affects the legality of the detention of the

accused to answer the charge prior to the filing of the information.” Petersen,

678 N.W.2d at 614. Specifically, the “remedy for a defendant who claimed that

his constitutional right to a preliminary hearing had been denied” is seeking a

habeas corpus proceeding, not dismissal of the charges or “voidance of a

subsequent conviction.”     State v. Rouse, 290 N.W.2d 911, 913 (Iowa 1980),

superseded on other grounds by Ryan v. Arneson, 422 N.W.2d 491, 494 (Iowa

1988); see also 4A B. John Burns, Iowa Practice Series: Criminal Procedure at

§ 4:3. Here, Haywood’s right to a preliminary hearing was not violated and, in

any event, any error was cured by the State’s filing of the trial information.
                                       20

      III. Conclusion.

      Because the minutes of testimony demonstrate facts that support both

offenses to which Haywood pled guilty, Haywood’s trial counsel was not

ineffective for permitting him to enter guilty pleas on that basis. Additionally,

under the facts and circumstances of this case, the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in denying the motion for a mistrial. Haywood’s pro se claims were

either not preserved for appellate review or are without merit. Finally, the State

concedes Haywood’s second-offense stipulation was invalid because there is no

evidence in the record that the district court undertook a colloquy similar to a

guilty-plea colloquy to verify the stipulation was knowingly and voluntarily made.

See Harrington, 893 N.W.2d at 45-48 (detailing the colloquy the court must

undertake before accepting a habitual or second-offense stipulation “to ensure

the affirmation is voluntary and intelligent, including an understanding of the

rights associated with the trial”). The State also agrees that controlling Iowa

Supreme Court authority requires that the costs assessed to Haywood, to the

extent that they were attributable or discrete to the dismissed counts, be

reversed. See State v. Petrie, 478 N.W.2d 620, 622 (Iowa 1991); see also State

v. Johnson, 887 N.W.2d 178, 182-83 (Iowa Ct. App. 2016) (vacating “that portion

of the sentencing order assessing court costs against Johnson for the dismissed

counts” and remanding “for entry of a corrected sentencing order assessing

Johnson with the appropriate court costs”).

      Accordingly, we reverse the judgment and sentence of the district court in

so far as it accepted Haywood’s stipulation to his second offense without

verifying Haywood knowingly and voluntarily admitted his prior conviction. See
                                          21

Harrington, 893 N.W.2d at 48. We also vacate Haywood’s sentence in part as to

any costs assessed against him for the dismissed or acquitted counts.             See

Petrie, 478 N.W.2d at 622; see also Johnson, 887 N.W.2d at 183. We remand to

the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion or for trial if

Haywood denies his prior conviction or its validity, and for the court to make a

more detailed order on the costs it assessed to Haywood—ensuring that none of

the costs assessed were clearly attributable or discrete to the dismissed counts,

and if so, removing them from the assessment. See Harrington, 893 N.W.2d at

48; Petrie, 478 N.W.2d at 622; see also Johnson, 887 N.W.2d at 183.6 We affirm

in all other respects.

       On September 27, 2017, Haywood filed a “Motion to Reverse” pursuant to

Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 1.1006(3). Having reviewed the motion and

finding it without merit, we deny the motion.

       JUDGMENT AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART,

SENTENCE AFFIRMED IN PART AND VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED

WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

6
 We note the mere fact that counts were dismissed does not automatically establish part
of the court costs are attributable to the dismissed counts. Many of the normal court
costs would have been the same had there been one or twenty counts. On remand, the
record needs to be analyzed to determine if any of the assessed costs were clearly
attributable or discrete to the dismissed counts, and those costs only need to be
removed from the assessment. See Johnson, 887 N.W.2d at 182; see also State v. Kirk,
No.16-1930, 2017 WL 2875695, at *2-3 (Iowa Ct. App. July 6, 2017) (Doyle, J.,
concurring specially).