Court Opinion

ID: 4512654
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-04 19:04:05.423128+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:23.198260
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                  No. 18-2188
                              Filed March 4, 2020

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

DEVEN DESCHEPPER,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Mark D. Cleve (plea

hearing) and Henry W. Latham II (sentencing), Judges.

      A defendant challenges his consecutive sentences for two drug offenses.

AFFIRMED.

      Eric D. Tindal of Keegan Tindal & Mason, Iowa City, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Genevieve Reinkoester, Assistant

Attorney General, for appellee.

      Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ.
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TABOR, Judge.

      Deven Deschepper pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver

marijuana, a class “D” felony, and possession of amphetamine, a serious

misdemeanor. The district court sentenced him to an indeterminate term of five

years on the felony and a determinate term of 365 days on the misdemeanor—to

run consecutively. The court suspended incarceration and placed Deschepper on

supervised probation for three years. He appeals, arguing the court abused its

discretion in declining to defer judgment and in not stating a reason for the

consecutive terms. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the sentence.

      We review a sentence to see if the district court properly exercised its

discretion. State v. Hill, 878 N.W.2d 269, 272 (Iowa 2016). An abuse of discretion

occurs if the grounds for the sentence are not supported by substantial evidence

or are based on an erroneous application of the law. Id. Our task on appeal is not

to second guess the sentencing court’s decision but to assess “if it was

unreasonable or based on untenable grounds.” State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d

720, 725 (Iowa 2002).

      To help us evaluate its exercise of discretion, a sentencing court must state

on the record its reason for selecting the particular sentence. See Iowa R. Crim.

P. 2.23(3)(d). Beyond that requirement, the court must explicitly state the reason

for imposing consecutive sentences, though the court may rely on the same reason

as it did in arriving at the underlying sentence. See Hill, 878 N.W.2d at 275.
                                          3

       In his first issue on appeal, Deschepper claims he was entitled to a deferred

judgment1 rather than probation.       Deschepper believes the sentencing court

abused its discretion by paying too much attention to his history of offending as a

juvenile. He notes “at the time of sentencing [he] was only 20 years old and had

a year of sobriety under his belt.” Deschepper contends the court should have

elevated his recent rehabilitation efforts and deferred judgment.

       A sentencing court’s mission is to consider all pertinent information before

deciding which option “will provide maximum opportunity for the rehabilitation of

the defendant, and for the protection of the community from further offenses by the

defendant and others.” Iowa Code § 901.5 . When exercising its sentencing

discretion, the court must weigh relevant factors such as the nature of the offense

and attending circumstances; the defendant’s age; and the defendant’s character,

propensities, and chances of reform. Iowa Code § 907.5; State v. Leckington, 713

N.W.2d 208, 216 (Iowa 2006).

       Here, the sentencing court carried out that mission.           The court told

Deschepper that it appreciated his allocution. Deschepper had expressed his

gratitude for the addiction treatment he was receiving at the One Eighty Zone, a

community outreach organization. The court told Deschepper, “I have seen a lot

1 The presentence investigation (PSI) report stated Deschepper did “not appear to
be eligible” for a deferred judgment. See Iowa Code § 907.3(1)(a) (2019) (listing
conditions disqualifying a defendant from receiving a deferred judgment). The PSI
preparer did not say why. At the sentencing hearing, defense counsel asked for
supervised probation. Counsel noted his client had never been granted a deferred
judgment but counsel admitted he couldn’t “actually tell if he is eligible or not based
on the juvenile adjudications.” Like the district court, we may assume without
deciding Deschepper was eligible for a deferred judgment.
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of people that have had a lot of success through that program. It’s not easy, as

you know. But if you keep at it, you will have some success in your life.”

      After acknowledging Deschepper’s efforts at rehabilitation and his chances

of reform, the court returned to his propensity to reoffend. The court reasoned:

“[T]he basis of my decision not to grant a deferred judgment in this case is the

criminal history and the violence that has been in the past. I don’t find that it’s

appropriate for a deferred judgment given your extensive criminal history.” The

court then offered Deschepper what could be described as a pep talk:

      I understand you’re a young man. I don’t want you to be
      disappointed with that decision, sir. All right. You can come out of
      this. You can still come out of this and have a productive life within
      the community. It’s going to take some work on your part. And I
      think you recognize that right now. And I commend you on your one
      year sobriety. I know that’s not easy. Every day is not easy.
      Particularly with an addiction that you have had for so long. But I
      believe that you will be able to make it on the terms of probation with
      help of your probation officer and the folks at the One Eighty Zone.

On this record, Deschepper cannot overcome the strong presumption of validity

accorded the sentencing court’s exercise of discretion. See State v. Cheatheam,

569 N.W.2d 820, 821 (Iowa 1997).

      In his second claim on appeal, Deschepper asserts the court’s reasons for

issuing consecutive sentences was “essentially non-existent in this record.” We

disagree. The court expressly stated: “The sentences will be consecutive due to

the extensive criminal history.” That statement complied with the mandate in Hill.

See 878 N.W.2d at 275. We find no basis for resentencing.

      AFFIRMED.