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.

Martin Ray Hiatt v. State of Iowa - Prison Reclassification Rights

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Martin Ray Hiatt's postconviction relief petition. Hiatt challenged his reclassification to a higher-security prison facility, arguing that his property and liberty rights were violated due to an improper disciplinary process. The court held that Hiatt failed to establish a right to relief from his reclassification.

Martin Hiatt v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of Martin Hiatt's postconviction relief application challenging prison reclassification to a more secure unit. The court found Hiatt failed to establish a cognizable property or liberty interest requiring due process protections under Wolff v. McDonnell. The appeal (No. 24-1129) was decided without oral argument.

Guy Johns v. State of Iowa - Animal Neglect Conviction Affirmed

Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Guy Christopher Johns' eight convictions for four counts of animal neglect and four counts of abandonment of a dog. The appellate court found substantial evidence supported the convictions and rejected Johns' claims that he lacked ownership or custody of the dogs and that Iowa Code section 717B.8(2)(a) should apply.

State v. Johns - Animal Abandonment Appeal Affirmed

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Guy Christopher Johns on four counts of animal neglect and four counts of dog abandonment under Iowa Code sections 717B.3 and 717B.8. The defendant left eleven dogs in his mobile home without food or water for seven days after being evicted; one dog died and was partially consumed by the others. The court rejected Johns's challenges to the sufficiency of evidence regarding food/water provision, ownership/custody, and the abandonment exception.

Roland v. State of Iowa - Postconviction Relief Appeal

The Iowa Court of Appeals decided Case No. 24-1167, affirming in part and reversing in part the district court's denial of William Roland's postconviction relief application. The court affirmed the denial of Roland's ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim but reversed the dismissal of his actual-innocence claim, remanding for further proceedings on that claim.

Roland v. Iowa - Postconviction Relief (Alford Plea)

Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part a postconviction relief application filed by William Roland challenging his Alford plea to a misdemeanor assault charge. The court affirmed denial of his ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim but reversed the dismissal of his actual-innocence claim, remanding for further proceedings because the district court improperly barred that claim without evaluating whether the evidence met the actual-innocence standard.

Reed v. Anderson - Real Estate Contract Dispute

Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's declaratory judgment in Chad Michael Reed v. Dean Edward Anderson (Case No. 24-1340), ruling that $115,200 is due on a 2016 real estate purchase agreement. The court upheld the calculation of the original purchase price less earnest money already paid. Anderson's claims regarding interest and tax reimbursement were dismissed for failure to preserve the issues.

Reed v. Anderson - Farmland Contract Dispute

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's ruling in a farmland contract dispute between Chad Reed and Dean Anderson. The appellate court upheld that Anderson is not entitled to cash rent from Reed for the period since the 2016 purchase contract was signed. Anderson sought a declaratory ruling attempting to credit unpaid rent against the $50,000 earnest money, which the court rejected.