Court Opinion

ID: 2811221
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-24 16:07:46.714933+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:20.116340
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 14-1344
                               Filed June 24, 2015

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

CINDY CHRISTINE HEBRON,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, William A. Price,

District Associate Judge.

      A defendant challenges her guilty plea to operating while intoxicated first

offense and the denial of a new trial on two related assault charges. AFFIRMED.

      Patrick W. O’Bryan of O’Bryan Law Firm, Des Moines, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kevin Cmelik and Heather R. Quick

(until withdrawal), Assistant Attorneys General, John P. Sarcone, County

Attorney, and Jeff Noble, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.

      Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and McDonald, JJ.
                                         2

TABOR, J.

       Cindy Hebron crashed her car into a parked pickup, sheared off a power

pole, and landed upside down in the front yard of an east side Des Moines

residence.   As she squeezed out of the driver’s side window, she begged

witnesses at the scene: “Don’t call the cops.” After she was transported to the

emergency room, she struggled with health care providers and hospital security.

As a result, the State charged her with operating while intoxicated (OWI) second

offense and three assaults. A jury convicted her of two counts of assault on

health care providers, in violation of Iowa Code section 708.3A(4) (2011).

Because the jury could not reach a verdict on the OWI second offense, the

district court declared a mistrial. Hebron later pleaded guilty to OWI first offense,

in violation of Iowa Code section 321J.2.

       Hebron challenges all three convictions on appeal. First, she argues her

counsel was ineffective in allowing her to plead guilty given her mental condition.

Second, she contends the district court erred in denying her motion for new trial

on the two assault counts. On the guilty plea claim, because Hebron fails to

show her attorney breached a material duty or that she suffered prejudice as a

result of his performance, we reject her allegation of ineffective assistance of

counsel. In regard to the motion for new trial, we conclude Hebron has waived

error on a weight-of-the-evidence claim under Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure

2.24(2)(b)(6) by failing to argue the correct evidentiary standard on appeal. To

the extent Hebron is raising a sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge, we find

substantial evidence supports the jury’s assault verdicts. Accordingly, we affirm.
                                          3

I.     Background Facts and Proceedings

       After Hebron’s August 19, 2012 car crash and trip to the hospital, the

State filed a trial information charging her with four counts:

               Count I: Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence
       of alcohol or drug, second offense, in violation of Iowa Code section
       321J.2.
               Count II: Assault on a healthcare provider causing injury, in
       violation of Iowa Code section 708.3A(3), relating to the assault of
       nurse Patrice Herrera.
               Count III: Assault on a healthcare provider, in violation of
       Iowa Code section 708.3A(4), relating to the assault of Dr. James
       Swegle.
               Count IV: Assault causing bodily injury, in violation of Iowa
       Code section 708.2(2), relating to the assault of Ruby Highland.

       Before trial, Hebron successfully moved to suppress the law enforcement

report indicating she had refused to submit to chemical testing. During Hebron’s

treatment at the hospital, she was too combative to safely allow a technician to

draw a blood sample.

       Her jury trial began on March 5, 2014. Dr. Swegle, a trauma surgeon,

testified he treated Hebron the night of the crash. He had no doubt she was

intoxicated. Dr. Swegle testified that during their interaction in the emergency

room, Hebron struck his face with a closed fist.        Nurse Patrice Herrera also

testified to tending to Hebron in the emergency room. The nurse shared the

doctor’s opinion that Hebron was under the influence of alcohol that night.

Herrera testified Hebron scratched her face, leaving an abrasion below her eye,

and bit her thumb. The nurse viewed the contact with Hebron as offensive and

injurious, and not inadvertent.    Nurse Herrera also told the jury that Hebron
                                         4

kicked security guard Highland while the guard was trying to hold the patient

down.

        On March 12, 2014, the jury found Hebron guilty of two serious

misdemeanors: assault on a health care provider, without causing injury, in the

count involving nurse Herrera (a lesser included offense of the count charged)

and assault on a health care provider, as charged, in the count involving Dr.

Swegle. The jury acquitted Hebron of the assault against the security guard and

could not reach a verdict on the OWI second count, resulting in a mistrial.

        On May 16, 2014, the parties appeared before the court and indicated

they had reached a plea agreement on the remaining count.             In return for

Hebron’s guilty plea, the State agreed to reduce the charge to OWI first offense;

the parties were free to recommend any disposition. The district court conducted

a complete plea colloquy with Hebron and accepted her plea of guilty.

        Hebron appeared for sentencing on July 15, 2014. Before the court could

pronounce sentence, while sitting at counsel table in the courtroom, Hebron

swallowed a handful of prescription Xanax.       The court ordered Hebron into

custody and directed jail staff to arrange any necessary medical care.        After

reconvening for sentencing on July 18, 2014, the court imposed a suspended

two-year sentence for the assaults and a concurrent 180-day jail term for the

OWI conviction. Hebron now appeals.

II.     Scope and Standards of Review

        We review de novo Hebron’s claim she received ineffective assistance of

counsel at the plea hearing. See State v. Finney, 834 N.W.2d 46, 49 (Iowa
                                          5

2013). We apply the de novo standard because her claim is based in the Sixth

Amendment. See State v. Clay, 824 N.W.2d 488, 494 (Iowa 2012). We evaluate

claims of ineffective assistance using a two-part test.            See Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984) (holding defendant must show counsel’s

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and a different

result was reasonably probable but for counsel’s unprofessional errors). While

we     often   preserve   ineffective-assistance   claims   for   postconviction-relief

proceedings, we will decide them on direct appeal if the record is adequate to do

so. Finney, 834 N.W.2d at 49.

        We apply an abuse-of-discretion standard to the denial of a motion for

new trial. State v. Nitcher, 720 N.W.2d 547, 559 (Iowa 2006). We allow district

courts “wide discretion” in deciding new trial motions alleging the verdict is

contrary to the weight of the evidence under rule 2.24(2)(b)(6). But, at the same

time, we caution courts to exercise that discretion “carefully and sparingly” so

that they do not lessen the role of juries as the principal fact finders. See State v.

Ellis, 578 N.W.2d 655, 659 (Iowa 1998). By contrast, the denial of a motion for

judgment of acquittal requires us to examine the sufficiency of the evidence

supporting the jury’s verdict. Nitcher, 720 N.W.2d at 556. We review challenges

to the sufficiency of the evidence for errors at law. Id.

III.    Analysis of Hebron’s Challenges

        A.     Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at Guilty Plea Hearing

        A guilty plea is a serious act that a defendant must do voluntarily,

knowingly, and intelligently with an awareness of the relevant circumstances and
                                         6

consequences.      Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56 (1985); State v. Utter, 803
N.W.2d 647, 651 (Iowa 2011). We evaluate guilty plea challenges based on

ineffective assistance of counsel under the two-part Strickland test. Hill, 474 U.S.

at 57. To satisfy the performance prong, a defendant must show her counsel’s

performance fell below the benchmark of a reasonably competent practitioner.

State v. Straw, 709 N.W.2d 128, 133 (Iowa 2006). To satisfy the prejudice prong

in a guilty plea case, a defendant must show a reasonable probability that but for

counsel’s error, she would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on

going to trial. Id. at 138.

       Hebron argues she was not afforded effective assistance of counsel

because her attorney allowed her to enter a guilty plea which was not knowing,

voluntary and intelligent. Hebron does not attack the adequacy of the court’s

colloquy, but instead claims her attorney “could not adequately explain things to

her prior to the guilty plea she entered because of her brain injury and the

medications she was taking.”

       The plea transcript belies Hebron’s claim that her attorney breached a

material duty in allowing her to enter a guilty plea. In the following exchange,

Hebron told the court that she was taking medication that enabled her to

understand the proceedings:

             THE COURT: Are you under the care of a doctor,
       psychiatrist, or psychologist at this time?
             THE DEFENDANT: Yeah.
             THE COURT: And which of those three, or all three?
             THE DEFENDANT: Psychiatrist and I believe—just a
       psychiatrist.
             THE COURT: Are you being prescribed psychotropic
       medications by this psychiatrist?
                                        7

              THE DEFENDANT: Abilify is one of my prescriptions that I’m
      taking. And Abilify is one of the medications, and I’m up to date on
      taking that. It’s for bipolar. And Cymbalta, starts with a C, for
      depression.
              THE COURT: And have you taken those prescriptions as
      prescribed by your psychiatrist?
              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I have.
              THE COURT: And do they, either the Cymbalta or the
      Abilify, in any way affect your ability to think with a clear mind as
      you appear before me today?
              THE DEFENDANT: It helps me think with a clearer mind.
              THE COURT: And do you believe you are thinking with a
      clear mind as you appear before me today?
              THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

      The court also asked Hebron if she was satisfied with the advice and

services of her attorney at the plea hearing, and she responded that she was.

She told the court she was pleading guilty voluntarily and of her own free will.

She also told the court her attorney had complied with all of her requests in

connection with the defense of the OWI case. When asked to describe what she

did “back on August 19, 2012” to be charged with OWI, Hebron told the court she

purchased “a bottle of Fireball” whiskey and drank all but one shot of it before

driving her vehicle. Based on this record, we conclude a competent criminal

defense attorney could have reasonably believed the defendant was capable of

entering a knowing, voluntary, and intelligent plea. Hebron does not establish

her counsel’s performance fell below that of a reasonably competent practitioner.

      On the prejudice prong, Hebron does not assert in her opening appellant’s

brief that but for trial counsel’s deficient performance, she would not have

pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial. Hebron does assert in

her reply brief that “but for feeling duress to enter this plea” she would have

“gone to a second trial and prevailed on the OWI charge.” But that assertion
                                           8

comes too late. See Young v. Gregg, 480 N.W.2d 75, 78 (Iowa 1992) (“[W]e

have long held that an issue cannot be asserted for the first time in a reply

brief.”). Moreover, we see nothing in her responses during the plea record that

would support an allegation of duress.

       Because Hebron can satisfy neither prong of the Strickland test, we reject

her claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with her guilty plea to

OWI first offense.

       B.       Motion for New Trial

       Hebron next argues the district court erred in denying her motion for new

trial on the two counts of assault against her healthcare providers. Both in the

trial court and on appeal, Hebron’s attorneys confuse the standards for assessing

weight and sufficiency of the evidence. Hebron’s trial counsel filed a motion for

new trial alleging the court erred in “not granting the motion for judgment of

acquittal on Counts II and III based on the lack of sufficient evidence proving

specific intent to commit an assault.” At the time of the new trial motion, the

district court could not reconsider its ruling on the motion for judgment of

acquittal. See State v. Smith, 195 N.W.2d 673, 674 (Iowa 1972) (motion for

judgment notwithstanding the verdict is not recognized in Iowa criminal practice).

Under rule 2.24(2)(b)(6), the district court did have discretion to grant a new trial

if the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence. State v. Reeves, 670
N.W.2d 199, 201 (Iowa 2003).           Despite trial counsel’s misstatement of the

standard, the district court ruled the verdicts were not contrary to the weight of

the evidence.
                                           9

       On appeal, Hebron’s counsel targets the court’s denial of the motion for

new trial in the issue heading but cites only case law discussing the sufficiency of

the evidence in the body of the brief. See, e.g., State v. Sanford, 814 N.W.2d
611, 615 (Iowa 2012); Nitcher, 720 N.W.2d at 556;1 State v. Webb, 648 N.W.2d
72, 75 (Iowa 2002). Hebron’s appellate counsel mentions rule 2.24(2)(b)(6) but

does not discuss the weight-of-the-evidence standard. Because Hebron does

not advance an argument that the jury’s assault verdicts were contrary to the

weight of the evidence, we deem that issue waived in this appeal. See State v.

Short, 851 N.W.2d 474, 479 (Iowa 2014) (citing Iowa R. App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(3)

(requiring appellant to present arguments and supportive authority in appeal brief

and stating “[f]ailure to cite authority in support of an issue may be deemed

waiver of that issue”)).

       To the extent Hebron has preserved a claim regarding the sufficiency of

the evidence for her assault convictions, we will address that issue here. We

uphold verdicts if they are supported by substantial evidence. State v. Keeton,

710 N.W.2d 531, 532 (Iowa 2006). We consider evidence to be substantial if it

would convince a rational fact finder the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable

doubt. Id. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdicts,

including legitimate inferences and presumptions that may fairly and reasonably

be deduced from the record evidence. Id.

1
 Nitcher actually addresses both a sufficiency issue and a weight-of-the-evidence issue,
but Hebron’s pinpoint cite is to the sufficiency analysis.
                                          10

       Hebron points out that assault is a specific-intent crime and argues the

State did not prove she intended to harm nurse Herrera or Dr. Swegle 2–given her

“heightened emotional state” following the car crash.

       When viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdicts, we

find substantial evidence to uphold the jury’s finding that Hebron had specific

intent to assault her health care providers.       Witness Ruby Highland testified

Hebron threatened to “hunt down Patrice [Herrera] and kill her.” Hebron also

was cursing the medical staff. Nurse Herrera testified Hebron looked right at her

before grabbing and scratching her face. Hebron also moved her head into a

position so that she could bite the nurse’s thumb. Dr. Swegle testified Hebron

punched him in the face with a closed fist, suggesting more than an inadvertent

blow as she was flailing in the bed. The jury was entitled to view these as

deliberate acts, committed with specific intent to either cause the health care

providers pain or injury; or to result in physical contact which would be insulting

or offensive; or to place the providers in fear of immediate physical contact that

would be painful, injurious, or offensive. See Iowa Code § 708.1(2). Under this

record, substantial evidence existed to support the jury’s verdicts on assault.

       AFFIRMED.

2
  Hebron argues for the first time on appeal that Dr. Swegle did not identify her as his
assailant during his testimony. Because identity was a not a basis for the motion for
judgment of acquittal at trial, that ground is not preserved for appeal. See State v.
Truesdell, 679 N.W.2d 611, 615 (Iowa 2004) (“To preserve error on a claim of
insufficient evidence for appellate review in a criminal case, the defendant must make a
motion for judgment of acquittal at trial that identifies the specific grounds raised on
appeal.”).