US Courts

State v. Boger - Third-Degree Burglary Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Shawn Boger's third-degree burglary conviction stemming from a break-in at Gold Eagle Cooperative in Titonka in August 2023. The court found sufficient evidence to support the conviction, including surveillance footage of a white pickup truck matching Boger's vehicle, clothing recovered from his residence matching descriptions from the crime scene, and green pry bars with paint transfer evidence. The defendant appealed arguing insufficient evidence; the appeal was rejected.

James v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the summary dismissal of Najee James's postconviction relief (PCR) application. The court held that James's actual-innocence claim was barred by the three-year statute of limitations under Iowa Code section 822.3 and that he failed to prove actual innocence by clear and convincing evidence. James had previously pled guilty to forgery and identity theft in 2017.

Robert Cornell v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Affirmed

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Robert Cornell's fourth application for postconviction relief in Case No. 24-1501. Cornell challenged his 1977 first-degree murder conviction for the death of Kenneth Crow, arguing actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence that Crow was alive after leaving Cornell's vehicle. The court upheld the district court's finding that witness testimony was uncertain and inconsistent.

Bruggeman v. Narnus - Settlement Agreement Enforcement

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment in favor of Craig Bruggeman d/b/a Bruggeman Realty against Narnus Property Management, LLC. The court held that email exchanges between the parties constituted an enforceable settlement agreement for a realty commission dispute, despite the absence of a fully executed written settlement agreement. The court also upheld the award of attorney fees and costs to Bruggeman.

Ryan Tagge v. Iowa DHHS - Child Abuse Registry Judicial Review

The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the district court's dismissal of Tagge's petition for judicial review and remanded the case. The appellate court held that because Iowa DHHS failed to transmit the agency record to the district court as required by Iowa Code section 17A.19(6), the agency cannot benefit from its own failure. On remand, the agency must transmit the record and the district court must issue a new decision with the benefit of the complete administrative record.

State v. Archer - OWI Appeal Dismissal

The Iowa Court of Appeals dismissed defendant Jacob Archer's appeal of his OWI sentence. The court held it lacked jurisdiction because Archer failed to establish good cause to appeal, as he received the sentence he agreed to under a plea agreement. Archer attempted to challenge sentencing defects in a related OWI case, but the court found no basis for appeal under Iowa Code section 814.6(1)(a)(3).

State v. Robinson - Alford Plea Appeal Affirmed

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Case No. 23-0052, State v. Sherrell Quintrad Robinson, upholding the district court's decision. The defendant appealed his Alford plea arguing it was not knowing and voluntary and that the court erred in denying his request for appointed counsel. The appellate court found the record establishes Robinson made a knowing and voluntary plea and knowingly waived counsel.

State v. Robinson - Criminal Alford Plea Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Sherrell Quintrad Robinson, who entered an Alford plea to possession with intent to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance (powder cocaine). The court rejected Robinson's motion in arrest of judgment challenging the validity of his plea, finding it both untimely and without merit. Robinson received an indeterminate sentence not exceeding ten years in the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections, a $1,000 fine plus surcharge, and restitution.

Huckfeldt v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Brian Andrew Huckfeldt's appeal regarding his untimely application for postconviction relief. The three-judge panel considered the matter without oral argument and upheld the Polk County District Court's decision. Huckfeldt had claimed the lower court erred by dismissing his application without allowing him to fully develop the record.

Brian Huckfeldt v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Statute of Limitations

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's dismissal of Brian Huckfeldt's postconviction-relief application as untimely. The court found the application, filed 20 years after his 2003 guilty plea, failed to assert any recognized exception to Iowa Code § 822.3's three-year statute of limitations for PCR applications. Huckfeldt argued his pleas were involuntary due to later-found incompetency, but the court held he acknowledged he had no cognizable claim because he needed more time to investigate.