IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-1134 Filed February 16, 2022
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
JOHN EDWARD HOFFMAN, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, Monica Zrinyi
Ackley, Judge.
John Hoffman appeals the sentences imposed after his guilty plea.
SENTENCES VACATED AND CASE REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.
Christopher C. Fry and Alyssa M. Carlson of O'Connor & Thomas, P.C.,
Dubuque, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Tyler J. Buller, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Bower, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and Chicchelly, JJ. 2
CHICCHELLY, Judge.
On the evening of November 9, 2019, John Hoffman was intoxicated and
driving on the wrong side of Highway 52 in Dubuque County when his vehicle
struck an oncoming vehicle driven by Hannah Ruggeberg. Hannah and her unborn
son were killed in the accident. Consequently, the State charged Hoffman with:
Count I, homicide by vehicle, in violation of Iowa Code section 707.6A (2019);
Count II, nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy, in violation of Iowa
Code section 707.8(2); and Count III, serious injury by vehicle, in violation of Iowa
Code section 707.6A(4). Hoffman entered a guilty plea to all three counts pursuant
to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.10, conditioning his plea on the court
accepting his plea bargain such that the sentences of incarceration for each of the
three counts would run concurrently to each other. The district court instead
sentenced Hoffman to three consecutive terms of incarceration. Hoffman appeals,
arguing that this matter should be remanded so that his rule 2.10 plea may be
properly considered by the district court. We agree.
On May 20, 2021, Hoffman signed a written guilty plea to all three counts of
the State’s trial information. Hoffman’s plea is clear and consistent throughout,
indicating that it was conditioned on the court’s acceptance of the plea bargain. At
paragraph 8 of his written plea, Hoffman checked a box and initialed next to the
statement, “This guilty plea is entered pursuant to Iowa Rule of Criminal
Procedure 2.10 based upon an agreement with the State’s attorney regarding the
charges against me and/or my sentence. I understand the agreement is binding
on the Court unless the Court specifically tells me otherwise.” Paragraph 9 of
Hoffman’s written plea states, 3
In exchange for my guilty plea, the State will recommend a sentence of no more than 25 years on Count I, a sentence of no more than 10 years on Count II, and a sentence of no more than 5 years on Count III. All sentences will run concurrent with each other.
At Paragraph 10 of the written plea, Hoffman checked a box and initialed, “I
understand that this is a Rule 2.10 plea agreement, which means that if the Court
does not accept the plea agreement, I may withdraw my plea of Guilty.”
Paragraph 29 of the written guilty plea states, “My entry of this guilty plea IS
contingent upon the Court accepting the plea bargain.” This language is also
initialed by Hoffman. The plea was accepted by the court, and a sentencing
hearing was set.
On July 19, 2021, the district court held the scheduled sentencing hearing.
At hearing, consistent with the plea agreement, the State’s attorney recommended
that Hoffman’s sentences of incarceration for all three counts be run concurrently
with one another. Hoffman’s attorney then asked the court “to follow the
agreement of the parties” and to “sentence him to up to 25 years, up to ten years
and up to five years on the three counts, but have the sentences run concurrent.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court instead sentenced Hoffman to up
to twenty-five years on Count I, ten years on Count II, and five years on Count III.
But it further ordered that the three terms of incarceration run consecutive to each
other for a total of forty years. In its order of judgment and sentence, the court
stated the reasons for the sentences were that the “sentence is most likely to
protect society and rehabilitate the defendant based upon the nature of the
offense, defendant’s prior record, and the recommendation of the parties and for
the reasons stated in the PSI, if any.” The court gave no reference to the fact that 4
Hoffman’s guilty plea was conditioned on the court’s agreement to be bound by
the plea agreement in either the sentencing hearing or its sentencing order. The
court did not inform Hoffman that it refused to be bound by the plea agreement
and it did not afford him an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea.
On appeal, Hoffman argues that the district court abused its discretion in
imposing consecutive sentences. Hoffman asserts that the district court erred by
declining to sentence him according to the terms of the plea agreement and by
failing to allow him an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea on the basis that the
court did not agree to follow the agreement. Hoffman further asserts that the court
failed to weigh all pertinent matters prior to sentencing him.
While the State concedes that the district court failed to comply with
rule 2.10, the State argues that the court lacks authority to decide the rule 2.10
issue due to the 2019 amendments to chapter 814, which restrict direct appeals of
convictions following a guilty plea absent a showing of “good cause.” See Iowa
Code § 814.6(1)(a)(3). The State further argues that Hoffman did not preserve
error on this issue as he sat mute at the sentencing hearing and did not challenge
the court relative to its lack of adherence to the plea agreement. Last, the State
argues that the district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing the pertinent
factors at sentencing.
Hoffman asserts that he does not challenge the convictions for the offenses
to which he pleaded guilty. Rather, he asserts that his challenge is to the
sentences imposed by the court, which he further claims is illegal due to the court’s
lack of adherence to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.10. Though Hoffman also 5
asserts the court failed to weigh all pertinent matters prior to sentencing him, we
find his argument relative to rule 2.10 to be dispositive.
Our review of a sentence imposed in a criminal case is for correction of
errors at law. State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 724 (Iowa 2002). We will not
reverse a sentence unless there is “an abuse of discretion or some defect in the
sentencing procedure.” Id.
Generally, a defendant who pleads guilty must move in arrest of judgment
to preserve error for our review. See Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.24(3)(a). But “[t]he rule
has no applicability to a situation, as in this case, where the defendant does not
know the deficiency in the plea proceeding until after sentencing.” See State v.
Thompson, 856 N.W.2d 915, 921 (Iowa 2014).
We agree that the error alleged by Hoffman herein is not a challenge to his
guilty plea but rather a sentencing error. The Iowa Supreme Court has previously
held, “sentencing error arises after the court has accepted the guilty plea.” State
v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020). Further, the Iowa Supreme Court
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-1134 Filed February 16, 2022
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
JOHN EDWARD HOFFMAN, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, Monica Zrinyi
Ackley, Judge.
John Hoffman appeals the sentences imposed after his guilty plea.
SENTENCES VACATED AND CASE REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.
Christopher C. Fry and Alyssa M. Carlson of O'Connor & Thomas, P.C.,
Dubuque, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Tyler J. Buller, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Bower, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and Chicchelly, JJ. 2
CHICCHELLY, Judge.
On the evening of November 9, 2019, John Hoffman was intoxicated and
driving on the wrong side of Highway 52 in Dubuque County when his vehicle
struck an oncoming vehicle driven by Hannah Ruggeberg. Hannah and her unborn
son were killed in the accident. Consequently, the State charged Hoffman with:
Count I, homicide by vehicle, in violation of Iowa Code section 707.6A (2019);
Count II, nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy, in violation of Iowa
Code section 707.8(2); and Count III, serious injury by vehicle, in violation of Iowa
Code section 707.6A(4). Hoffman entered a guilty plea to all three counts pursuant
to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.10, conditioning his plea on the court
accepting his plea bargain such that the sentences of incarceration for each of the
three counts would run concurrently to each other. The district court instead
sentenced Hoffman to three consecutive terms of incarceration. Hoffman appeals,
arguing that this matter should be remanded so that his rule 2.10 plea may be
properly considered by the district court. We agree.
On May 20, 2021, Hoffman signed a written guilty plea to all three counts of
the State’s trial information. Hoffman’s plea is clear and consistent throughout,
indicating that it was conditioned on the court’s acceptance of the plea bargain. At
paragraph 8 of his written plea, Hoffman checked a box and initialed next to the
statement, “This guilty plea is entered pursuant to Iowa Rule of Criminal
Procedure 2.10 based upon an agreement with the State’s attorney regarding the
charges against me and/or my sentence. I understand the agreement is binding
on the Court unless the Court specifically tells me otherwise.” Paragraph 9 of
Hoffman’s written plea states, 3
In exchange for my guilty plea, the State will recommend a sentence of no more than 25 years on Count I, a sentence of no more than 10 years on Count II, and a sentence of no more than 5 years on Count III. All sentences will run concurrent with each other.
At Paragraph 10 of the written plea, Hoffman checked a box and initialed, “I
understand that this is a Rule 2.10 plea agreement, which means that if the Court
does not accept the plea agreement, I may withdraw my plea of Guilty.”
Paragraph 29 of the written guilty plea states, “My entry of this guilty plea IS
contingent upon the Court accepting the plea bargain.” This language is also
initialed by Hoffman. The plea was accepted by the court, and a sentencing
hearing was set.
On July 19, 2021, the district court held the scheduled sentencing hearing.
At hearing, consistent with the plea agreement, the State’s attorney recommended
that Hoffman’s sentences of incarceration for all three counts be run concurrently
with one another. Hoffman’s attorney then asked the court “to follow the
agreement of the parties” and to “sentence him to up to 25 years, up to ten years
and up to five years on the three counts, but have the sentences run concurrent.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court instead sentenced Hoffman to up
to twenty-five years on Count I, ten years on Count II, and five years on Count III.
But it further ordered that the three terms of incarceration run consecutive to each
other for a total of forty years. In its order of judgment and sentence, the court
stated the reasons for the sentences were that the “sentence is most likely to
protect society and rehabilitate the defendant based upon the nature of the
offense, defendant’s prior record, and the recommendation of the parties and for
the reasons stated in the PSI, if any.” The court gave no reference to the fact that 4
Hoffman’s guilty plea was conditioned on the court’s agreement to be bound by
the plea agreement in either the sentencing hearing or its sentencing order. The
court did not inform Hoffman that it refused to be bound by the plea agreement
and it did not afford him an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea.
On appeal, Hoffman argues that the district court abused its discretion in
imposing consecutive sentences. Hoffman asserts that the district court erred by
declining to sentence him according to the terms of the plea agreement and by
failing to allow him an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea on the basis that the
court did not agree to follow the agreement. Hoffman further asserts that the court
failed to weigh all pertinent matters prior to sentencing him.
While the State concedes that the district court failed to comply with
rule 2.10, the State argues that the court lacks authority to decide the rule 2.10
issue due to the 2019 amendments to chapter 814, which restrict direct appeals of
convictions following a guilty plea absent a showing of “good cause.” See Iowa
Code § 814.6(1)(a)(3). The State further argues that Hoffman did not preserve
error on this issue as he sat mute at the sentencing hearing and did not challenge
the court relative to its lack of adherence to the plea agreement. Last, the State
argues that the district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing the pertinent
factors at sentencing.
Hoffman asserts that he does not challenge the convictions for the offenses
to which he pleaded guilty. Rather, he asserts that his challenge is to the
sentences imposed by the court, which he further claims is illegal due to the court’s
lack of adherence to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.10. Though Hoffman also 5
asserts the court failed to weigh all pertinent matters prior to sentencing him, we
find his argument relative to rule 2.10 to be dispositive.
Our review of a sentence imposed in a criminal case is for correction of
errors at law. State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 724 (Iowa 2002). We will not
reverse a sentence unless there is “an abuse of discretion or some defect in the
sentencing procedure.” Id.
Generally, a defendant who pleads guilty must move in arrest of judgment
to preserve error for our review. See Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.24(3)(a). But “[t]he rule
has no applicability to a situation, as in this case, where the defendant does not
know the deficiency in the plea proceeding until after sentencing.” See State v.
Thompson, 856 N.W.2d 915, 921 (Iowa 2014).
We agree that the error alleged by Hoffman herein is not a challenge to his
guilty plea but rather a sentencing error. The Iowa Supreme Court has previously
held, “sentencing error arises after the court has accepted the guilty plea.” State
v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020). Further, the Iowa Supreme Court
held that good cause to appeal a sentence existed when a defendant challenges
“a nonmandatory sentence that was outside the range agreed to by the parties in
the plea agreement.” Id. In this case, Hoffman’s plea had been accepted by the
court two months prior to his sentencing. Further, Hoffman did not know the court
would fail to adhere to rule 2.10 until after he was sentenced, and Hoffman was
clearly sentenced to nonmandatory consecutive sentences outside the range of
the plea agreement. 6
Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.10 states:
If a plea agreement has been reached by the parties the court shall require the disclosure of the agreement in open court at the time the plea is offered. Thereupon, if the agreement is conditioned upon concurrence of the court in the charging or sentencing concession made by the prosecuting attorney, the court may accept or reject the agreement, or may defer its decision as to acceptance or rejection until receipt of a presentence report.
Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.1(2). Further:
When the plea agreement is conditioned upon the court’s concurrence, and the court accepts the plea agreement, the court shall inform the defendant that it will embody in the judgment and sentence the disposition provided for in the plea agreement or another disposition more favorable to the defendant than that provided for in the plea agreement.
Iowa R. Crim. P 2.10(3). The rule also states:
If at the time the plea of guilty is tendered, the court refuses to be bound by or rejects the plea agreement, the court shall inform the parties of this fact, afford the defendant the opportunity to then withdraw defendant’s plea, and advise the defendant that if persistence in a guilty plea continues, the disposition of the case may be less favorable to the defendant than that contemplated by the plea agreement.
Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.10(4). “[T]he requirements of subsection (4) are meant to apply
only when the plea agreement has been conditioned on the court’s concurrence in
the agreement between the parties.” State v. Weaver, No. 05-0764, 2006 WL
3018498, at *3 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 25, 2006).
In this case, Hoffman’s guilty plea was quite clearly conditioned on the
district court’s concurrence. This fact was referenced multiple times consistently
throughout his written guilty plea, thus triggering the obligations set forth in
rule 2.10(4). Because the court rejected Hoffman’s plea agreement, Hoffman is
entitled to withdraw his guilty plea. See State v. Malone, 511 N.W.2d 423, 425 7
(Iowa Ct. App. 1993) (“We determine the district court abused its discretion in not
allowing the defendant to withdraw her guilty plea after the sentencing judge
refused to accept the plea agreement. The defendant’s reliance on the plea
agreement was to her detriment when she received a sentence of incarceration
instead of probation.”); see also State v. Barker, 476 N.W.2d 624, 629 (Iowa 1991)
(holding the defendant “should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea” where the
sentencing court failed to follow “the previous court’s adherence to the plea
agreement” and where the prosecutor withdrew from the plea agreement without
providing notice).
We vacate Hoffman’s sentences and remand for further proceedings,
before a different judge, consistent with this opinion. See Barker, 476 N.W.2d at
629. In light of our disposition, we find it unnecessary to address the remaining
issues herein.
SENTENCES VACATED AND CASE REMANDED FOR
RESENTENCING.