State of Iowa v. Creighton Paul Catlett

• Court: Court of Appeals of Iowa
• Decided: January 28, 2015
• Docket: 14-0500
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 14-0500 Filed January 28, 2015

STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

CREIGHTON PAUL CATLETT, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Gregory W.

Steensland, Judge.

The defendant appeals the judgment and sentence entered following his

guilty pleas. CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED, SENTENCES REVERSED IN PART,

AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.

Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Robert P. Ranschau,

Assistant Appellate Defender, for appellant.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney

General, Matthew D. Wilber, County Attorney, and Martha Heinicke, Assistant

County Attorney, for appellee.

Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Potterfield, J., and Scott, S.J.*

*Senior judges assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2015). 2

SCOTT, S.J.

Creighton Paul Catlett appeals the judgment and sentence entered

following his convictions of two counts of assault causing bodily injury, two

counts of serious injury by vehicle, one count of possession with intent to deliver,

and one count of first-degree theft. He raises several claims of ineffective

assistance of counsel stemming from his guilty plea. He also contends the trial

court erred in failing to reduce the fine imposed following his probation revocation

and in imposing a mandatory minimum sentence on his conviction of possession

with intent to deliver. We affirm his convictions, vacate his sentence in part, and

remand with directions.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

This case involves a guilty to plea to five charges stemming from four

separate incidents in 2012 and 2013. Catlett entered his guilty pleas to all five

charges on October 30, 2013. Judgment was deferred, and Catlett was placed

on two years of probation under the supervision of the Drug Court Program.

Catlett was assessed a $1000 civil penalty pursuant to Iowa Code section 907.14

(2013).

In December 2013, Catlett failed to return to the residential correctional

facility where he had been placed, and an arrest warrant was issued for his

escape from custody. Catlett pleaded guilty to the escape charge on March 19,

2014, and the deferred judgments entered in October 2013 were revoked. The

district court ordered Catlett to serve a term of imprisonment not to exceed one

year on each of his convictions of assault causing bodily injury and five years on

his conviction of possession with intent to deliver. The court ordered those 3

sentences be served concurrently. The court also ordered Catlett to serve a term

of incarceration not to exceed five years on each of his convictions of serious

injury by vehicle and ten years on his conviction of first-degree theft but ordered

these sentences be served consecutively for a total term of incarceration not to

exceed twenty years.

II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel.

On appeal, Catlett first contends he was denied his constitutional right to

effective assistance of counsel, which is one of two ways a defendant may attack

a guilty plea. See Rhoades v. State, 848 N.W.2d 22, 28 (Iowa 2014). We review

ineffective-assistance claims de novo. State v. Finney, 834 N.W.2d 46, 49 (Iowa

2013). While we ordinarily preserve such claims for postconviction relief

proceedings, we will address an ineffective-assistance claim on direct appeal if

the record is sufficient to permit a ruling. Id. We find the record here is sufficient.

Catlett alleges his counsel was ineffective in allowing him to plead guilty

and for failing to file a motion in arrest of judgment because (1) his convictions

and sentences for serious assault by vehicle arise from a single incident, in

violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause, (2) his plea was involuntary and

unintelligent due to the district court’s failure to explain the nature and elements

of each offense, and (3) there is no factual basis for his theft conviction.

A. Double Jeopardy.

Catlett’s first claim of ineffective assistance of counsel concerns his

serious-injury-by-vehicle convictions. He argues counsel was ineffective in

allowing him to plead guilty to both counts because they arise from the same 4

incident and are the same offense, in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause of

the United States Constitution.

One of the purposes of the Double Jeopardy Clause is to prevent multiple

punishments for the same offense. State v. Lindell, 828 N.W.2d 1, 4 (Iowa

2013). However, the Double Jeopardy Clause does not prevent multiple

sentences if a defendant is convicted of two offenses that are not the same.

State v. Jacobs, 607 N.W.2d 679, 688 (Iowa 2000). “Where the sentences

imposed are based on distinct acts, there is no double jeopardy problem.” Id.

The test to determine whether the same act violates two distinct statutory

provisions “‘is whether each provision requires proof of an additional fact which

the other does not.’” State v. Wissing, 528 N.W.2d 561, 566 (Iowa 1995)

(quoting Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932)).

The State charged Catlett with two counts of serious injury by vehicle

arising from an incident on July 26, 2013. On that date, Catlett was driving a

truck at a high rate of speed when it struck a parked van, mailbox, and concrete

pole. Catlett’s girlfriend sustained injuries to her head and shoulder in the crash

and was transported to the hospital for treatment. A test of Catlett’s urine

following the crash showed the presence of alcohol, marijuana metabolites, and

cocaine metabolites. Count I of the trial information alleged Catlett caused “a

serious injury by operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or

a drug or a combination of such substances.” Count II alleged Catlett caused “a

serious injury by driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner with willful or

wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” 5

Both Catlett’s convictions for serious injury by vehicle arise from the same

incident. The question is whether the offenses—and the acts being punished—

are the same. Iowa Code section 707.6A(4) provides several ways a person

may commit serious injury by vehicle. One way is “by operating a motor vehicle

while intoxicated.” Iowa Code § 707.6A(1), (4). Another is by “[d]riving a motor

vehicle in a reckless manner with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of

persons or property.” Id. § 707.6A(2)(a), (4). To commit the offense of serious

injury by vehicle as described in section 7076A(1), a person need not drive

recklessly. See State v. Massick, 511 N.W.2d 384, 387 (Iowa 1994) (“Although

driving under the influence is certainly reckless behavior, proof of recklessness is

not an essential element of operating while intoxicated.”). And while operating a

motor vehicle while intoxicated is reckless, it is not a requirement for committing

the offense of serious injury by vehicle as described in section 707.6A(2)(a). See

id. at 388 (noting one may operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated without

actually moving the vehicle, which would obviate the recklessness element of

reckless driving). Because each offense requires proof of a fact the other does

not require, the offenses are not the same. Accordingly, counsel was not

ineffective in allowing Catlett to plead guilty to both.

B. Voluntary and Intelligent.

Catlett alleges his counsel was ineffective in failing to file a motion in

arrest of judgment following his guilty plea because his plea was not voluntary

and intelligent. He alleges the district court failed to explain the nature and

elements of each offense and to inform him the jury’s verdict must be unanimous

to convict. 6

Due process requires that a defendant enter a guilty plea voluntarily and

intelligently. State v. Philo, 697 N.W.2d 481, 488 (Iowa 2005). If Catlett pleaded

guilty without a voluntary and intelligent waiver of his constitutional rights and

counsel failed to file a motion in arrest of judgment, counsel breached an

essential duty. Id. Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.8(2)(b) sets forth the

requirements for accepting a guilty plea. The first requirement is informing the

defendant of “[t]he nature of the charge to which the plea is offered.” Iowa R.

Crim. P. 2.8(2)(b)(1). However, the court “need only substantially comply with

this rule; strict compliance is not required.” State v. Yarborough, 536 N.W.2d

493, 496 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).

We conclude the court substantially complied with the requirements of rule

2.8(2)(b). The court is not required to discuss each element of a charge with the

defendant to ascertain his understanding of the nature of the offense. Id. The

court’s failure to explain an offense is not reversible error if, under the

circumstances, the defendant understood the nature of the charge. Id. Here, the

names of the offenses alone are descriptive enough for Catlett to understand the

charges he faced. See id. (“In fact, in some situations the name of the offense

itself has been held to be sufficiently descriptive.”). The court also confirmed

Catlett had received the trial information and agreed the minutes of evidence for

each charge were accurate. Under these circumstances, the record shows

Catlett was aware of and understood the nature of the charges to which he was

pleading guilty. Therefore, counsel had no duty to file a motion in arrest of

judgment. 7

Counsel was also not ineffective in failing to file a motion in arrest of

judgment for failure to explain the jury’s verdict must be unanimous. Rule

2.8(2)(b) requires that the court inform the defendant of the right to be tried by

jury. At the plea hearing, the court asked Catlett, “Do you understand that you

have a right to a speedy and public trial by a jury of 12 persons?” Catlett

affirmed he understood. There is no requirement that the court inform a

defendant the jury’s verdict must be unanimous. Therefore, counsel did not

breach an essential duty in failing to file a motion in arrest of judgment.

Because Catlett has failed to show his guilty plea was entered in violation

of his due process rights, counsel was not ineffective by failing to file a motion in

arrest of judgment on this basis.

C. Factual Basis.

Catlett’s final ineffective-assistance claim concerns counsel’s alleged

failure to ensure there was a factual basis for his guilty plea to the first-degree

theft charge. If counsel allowed Catlett to plead guilty and waive his right to file a

motion in arrest of judgment when there was no factual basis to support the plea,

counsel failed to perform an essential duty and prejudice is presumed. See State

v. Velez, 829 N.W.2d 572, 576 (Iowa 2013).

In determining the existence of a factual basis for the plea, we may

examine the entire record before the district court—not just the plea colloquy.

Finney, 834 N.W.2d at 62. The record includes the inquiry of the defendant,

inquiry of the prosecutor, presentence report, and minutes of evidence. State v.

Ortiz, 789 N.W.2d 761, 768 (Iowa 2010). Although the evidence must 8

demonstrate sufficient facts to support the offense, it need not rise to the level

necessary to support a guilty conviction. Id.

We conclude sufficient evidence supports Catlett’s guilty plea to first-

degree theft. Theft occurs when a person “[t]akes possession or control of the

property of another, or property in the possession of another, with the intent to

deprive the other thereof.” Iowa Code § 716.1(1). Catlett alleges there is no

factual basis for showing he intended to permanently deprive his brother of his

cell phone. The record evidence shows otherwise. An incident report filed with

the minutes of evidence shows Catlett was in a physical altercation with his

brother, Harbour, on August 28, 2013. When Harbour attempted to use his cell

phone to call the police, Catlett took the phone and “slammed it on the ground.”

Although Catlett claims the evidence only shows he intended to prevent Harbour

from using the phone to call the police, Catlett’s intent to permanently deprive

Harbour of the phone can be inferred as a natural consequence of his act of

slamming it to the ground. State v. Schminkey, 597 N.W.2d 785, 789 (Iowa

1999) (noting that we examine the record for facts and circumstances that would

support an inference of intent to permanently deprive an owner of property

because intent is seldom capable of being established by direct evidence); State

v. Chang, 587 N.W.2d 459, 462 (Iowa 1998) (holding an actor is presumed to

intend the natural consequence of his or her acts).

Because there is a factual basis in the record for the theft conviction,

counsel was not ineffective in allowing Catlett to plead guilty and failing to file a

motion in arrest of judgment. 9

III. Sentence.

Catlett next contends the district court erred in sentencing him.

Specifically, he challenges the court’s failure to reduce the amount of his fine by

$1000 pursuant to Iowa Code section 908.11(5) for the civil penalty previously

imposed upon his deferred judgment. He also argues the court erred in imposing

a three-year mandatory minimum on his possession-with-intent-to-deliver

conviction. Because Catlett alleges the court imposed an illegal sentence, our

review is for correction of errors at law. Tindell v. State, 629 N.W.2d 357, 359

(Iowa 2001).

The State concedes the failure to reduce the fine and the imposition of a

mandatory minimum sentence resulted in an illegal sentence. We vacate this

portion of the sentence and remand for entry of a corrected sentencing order

reducing the total amount of fines imposed by $1000 and eliminating the

mandatory minimum sentence imposed upon his conviction for possession with

intent to deliver.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED, SENTENCES REVERSED IN PART, AND

REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.