IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 22-0753 Filed March 29, 2023
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
ROY LEE GARNER, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Shawn R.
Showers, Judge.
Roy Garner appeals the sentences imposed following his guilty pleas to
abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction of prosecution or
defense. AFFIRMED.
Denise M. Gonyea of McKelvie Law Office, Grinnell, for appellant.
Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Tabor, P.J., Schumacher, J., and Danilson, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206
(2023). 2
DANILSON, Senior Judge.
Roy Garner appeals the sentences imposed following his guilty pleas to
abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction of prosecution or
defense, contending the district court “abused its discretion by considering
impermissible factors.” Upon our review, we affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
Garner lived with his girlfriend, Julia Cox, and her son, Steven Vogel. See
State v. Vogel, No. 21-1931, 2023 WL 1810032, at *1 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 8, 2023).
Vogel murdered Michael Williams. See id. at *3–5 (affirming Vogel’s convictions
for first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse). Following the murder, Williams’
body was transported from Cox’s home to a rural area and found “burning in the
ditch.” See id. at *2.
In connection with the aftermath of the murder, Garner eventually pled guilty
to abuse of a corpse, in violation of Iowa Code section 708.14(1)(b) (2020);
accessory after the fact, in violation of section 703.3; and obstruction of
prosecution or defense, in violation of section 719.3(1). Garner’s plea admitted his
involvement in “mutilating, disfiguring, or dismembering a human corpse with the
intent to conceal a crime”; “harbor[ing] [Vogel] with the intent to prevent the
apprehension of [Vogel]”; and “destruct[ing] evidence to prevent the prosecution”
of Vogel. Following a sentencing hearing, the district court imposed consecutive
prison terms totaling nine years. Garner appeals.
II. Standard of Review
Because the sentence imposed by the court was within the statutory limits,
we review Garner’s sentencing claim for an abuse of discretion. See State v. 3
Wright, 340 N.W.2d 590, 592 (Iowa 1983). An abuse of discretion occurs “when
the court exercises its discretion on grounds clearly untenable or to an extent
clearly unreasonable.” State v. Evans, 672 N.W.2d 328, 331 (Iowa 2003).
Sentencing decisions enjoy a strong presumption in their favor. State v. Loyd, 530
N.W.2d 708, 713 (Iowa 1995).
III. Discussion
On appeal, Garner contends the court “impermissibl[y]” “consider[ed] the
greater crimes of a co-defendant, [Vogel,] which were not charged against
[Garner]” “and in doing so imposed the maximum consecutive prison sentences
on [Garner].” Specifically, Garner claims the court “relied in large part on the
heinous murder committed by . . . Vogel in ordering that Garner’s sentences be
served consecutively rather than suspending his sentence as requested or
ordering the prison terms to be served concurrently.”
In explaining its reasons for Garner’s sentence, the court stated in relevant
part:
Mr. Garner, I’ve considered my sentencing options, and those are provided in Chapters 901 and 907, specifically [section] 907.5 of the Iowa Code, which is what I am to consider in sentencing you based on what would provide you with maximum rehabilitation and protect the community at the same time from further offenses by you and others. And I have considered your age. You’re an older man. You do have a small prior criminal history. You’re on, I believe, Social Security income for disability, so you’re not employed. Your family circumstances obviously have become known throughout this hearing. And the nature of the offense committed and the harm to the victim, which is obvious to anybody, and your rehabilitation. I do find that you did play a role—a significant role in dissolving or disposing of Mr. Michael Williams’s body by driving Steven Vogel and then aiding him—Mr. Vogel in setting Michael Williams’s body on fire in a ditch, dehumanizing him, transporting evidence, and then attempting to dispose of it. 4
I do find that your actions—I find them reprehensible, and there’s no excuse for them. And I’m sorry for your bad health now, but that’s not an excuse for this kind of behavior, and it’s not acceptable under the laws of this state or this county. So the Court is going to impose the prison sentence pursuant to the provisions of Iowa Code Sections 902.9, 907.5, 708, 703, and 719.3, and you’re hereby committed to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the maximum term of not to exceed five years on Count I, the maximum term of not to exceed two years on Count II, and the same for Count III. .... The sentences just imposed shall be served consecutively to each other based on the heinous nature of the crime and the attempted cover-up and obstruction of prosecution.
“In reaching a sentencing decision, the district court must determine which
legally authorized sentence for the offense ‘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.’” State v. McCalley, 972 N.W.2d
672, 677 (Iowa 2022) (quoting Iowa Code § 901.5). This requires the district court
to weigh multiple factors, “including the nature of the offense, the attending
circumstances, the age, character and propensity of the offender, and the chances
of reform.” State v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 106 (Iowa 2020) (quoting State v.
Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 725 (Iowa 2002)). The court also must “consider the
defendant’s prior record of convictions or deferred judgments, employment status,
family circumstances, and any other relevant factors.” Formaro, 638 N.W.2d at
725. There is a presumption in favor of the sentence imposed, and a defendant
must overcome that presumption by affirmatively demonstrating the court relied on
an improper factor. Damme, 944 N.W.2d at 106. “However, if the defendant
demonstrates that the district court considered an improper factor, resentencing is 5
required even if the improper factor was merely a secondary consideration.” State
v. Bowen, No. 22-0278, 2022 WL 16985663, at *3 (Iowa Ct. App. Nov. 17, 2022).
Here, at the start of the sentencing hearing, the court clearly stated it was
sentencing Garner on abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction
of prosecution or defense—three offenses related to his activities after the death
of Williams. We acknowledge some lack of clarity in the court’s statement that it
had to consider “the nature of the offense committed and the harm to the victim,
which is obvious to anybody, and your rehabilitation.” At first blush, it could imply
the court was considering the murder of Williams in addition to Garner’s
involvement in the crimes after Williams’ death.
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 22-0753 Filed March 29, 2023
STATE OF IOWA, Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
ROY LEE GARNER, Defendant-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Shawn R.
Showers, Judge.
Roy Garner appeals the sentences imposed following his guilty pleas to
abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction of prosecution or
defense. AFFIRMED.
Denise M. Gonyea of McKelvie Law Office, Grinnell, for appellant.
Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Tabor, P.J., Schumacher, J., and Danilson, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206
(2023). 2
DANILSON, Senior Judge.
Roy Garner appeals the sentences imposed following his guilty pleas to
abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction of prosecution or
defense, contending the district court “abused its discretion by considering
impermissible factors.” Upon our review, we affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
Garner lived with his girlfriend, Julia Cox, and her son, Steven Vogel. See
State v. Vogel, No. 21-1931, 2023 WL 1810032, at *1 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 8, 2023).
Vogel murdered Michael Williams. See id. at *3–5 (affirming Vogel’s convictions
for first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse). Following the murder, Williams’
body was transported from Cox’s home to a rural area and found “burning in the
ditch.” See id. at *2.
In connection with the aftermath of the murder, Garner eventually pled guilty
to abuse of a corpse, in violation of Iowa Code section 708.14(1)(b) (2020);
accessory after the fact, in violation of section 703.3; and obstruction of
prosecution or defense, in violation of section 719.3(1). Garner’s plea admitted his
involvement in “mutilating, disfiguring, or dismembering a human corpse with the
intent to conceal a crime”; “harbor[ing] [Vogel] with the intent to prevent the
apprehension of [Vogel]”; and “destruct[ing] evidence to prevent the prosecution”
of Vogel. Following a sentencing hearing, the district court imposed consecutive
prison terms totaling nine years. Garner appeals.
II. Standard of Review
Because the sentence imposed by the court was within the statutory limits,
we review Garner’s sentencing claim for an abuse of discretion. See State v. 3
Wright, 340 N.W.2d 590, 592 (Iowa 1983). An abuse of discretion occurs “when
the court exercises its discretion on grounds clearly untenable or to an extent
clearly unreasonable.” State v. Evans, 672 N.W.2d 328, 331 (Iowa 2003).
Sentencing decisions enjoy a strong presumption in their favor. State v. Loyd, 530
N.W.2d 708, 713 (Iowa 1995).
III. Discussion
On appeal, Garner contends the court “impermissibl[y]” “consider[ed] the
greater crimes of a co-defendant, [Vogel,] which were not charged against
[Garner]” “and in doing so imposed the maximum consecutive prison sentences
on [Garner].” Specifically, Garner claims the court “relied in large part on the
heinous murder committed by . . . Vogel in ordering that Garner’s sentences be
served consecutively rather than suspending his sentence as requested or
ordering the prison terms to be served concurrently.”
In explaining its reasons for Garner’s sentence, the court stated in relevant
part:
Mr. Garner, I’ve considered my sentencing options, and those are provided in Chapters 901 and 907, specifically [section] 907.5 of the Iowa Code, which is what I am to consider in sentencing you based on what would provide you with maximum rehabilitation and protect the community at the same time from further offenses by you and others. And I have considered your age. You’re an older man. You do have a small prior criminal history. You’re on, I believe, Social Security income for disability, so you’re not employed. Your family circumstances obviously have become known throughout this hearing. And the nature of the offense committed and the harm to the victim, which is obvious to anybody, and your rehabilitation. I do find that you did play a role—a significant role in dissolving or disposing of Mr. Michael Williams’s body by driving Steven Vogel and then aiding him—Mr. Vogel in setting Michael Williams’s body on fire in a ditch, dehumanizing him, transporting evidence, and then attempting to dispose of it. 4
I do find that your actions—I find them reprehensible, and there’s no excuse for them. And I’m sorry for your bad health now, but that’s not an excuse for this kind of behavior, and it’s not acceptable under the laws of this state or this county. So the Court is going to impose the prison sentence pursuant to the provisions of Iowa Code Sections 902.9, 907.5, 708, 703, and 719.3, and you’re hereby committed to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections for the maximum term of not to exceed five years on Count I, the maximum term of not to exceed two years on Count II, and the same for Count III. .... The sentences just imposed shall be served consecutively to each other based on the heinous nature of the crime and the attempted cover-up and obstruction of prosecution.
“In reaching a sentencing decision, the district court must determine which
legally authorized sentence for the offense ‘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.’” State v. McCalley, 972 N.W.2d
672, 677 (Iowa 2022) (quoting Iowa Code § 901.5). This requires the district court
to weigh multiple factors, “including the nature of the offense, the attending
circumstances, the age, character and propensity of the offender, and the chances
of reform.” State v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 106 (Iowa 2020) (quoting State v.
Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 725 (Iowa 2002)). The court also must “consider the
defendant’s prior record of convictions or deferred judgments, employment status,
family circumstances, and any other relevant factors.” Formaro, 638 N.W.2d at
725. There is a presumption in favor of the sentence imposed, and a defendant
must overcome that presumption by affirmatively demonstrating the court relied on
an improper factor. Damme, 944 N.W.2d at 106. “However, if the defendant
demonstrates that the district court considered an improper factor, resentencing is 5
required even if the improper factor was merely a secondary consideration.” State
v. Bowen, No. 22-0278, 2022 WL 16985663, at *3 (Iowa Ct. App. Nov. 17, 2022).
Here, at the start of the sentencing hearing, the court clearly stated it was
sentencing Garner on abuse of a corpse, accessory after the fact, and obstruction
of prosecution or defense—three offenses related to his activities after the death
of Williams. We acknowledge some lack of clarity in the court’s statement that it
had to consider “the nature of the offense committed and the harm to the victim,
which is obvious to anybody, and your rehabilitation.” At first blush, it could imply
the court was considering the murder of Williams in addition to Garner’s
involvement in the crimes after Williams’ death. We note, however, the court never
specifically referred to the murder of the victim while imposing sentence.
Considering the court’s statement in context, we conclude the court was
referencing the crime of abuse of a corpse and did not improperly consider
Williams’ murder in sentencing Garner. See State v. Johnson, No. 02-0676, 2003
WL 118531, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. Jan. 15, 2003) (“When we consider the
statements in context, we conclude they show only a proper consideration of . . .
other proper factors, rather than an improper consideration of unproven
offenses.”). Here, Garner has not affirmatively demonstrated that the court relied
on an improper factor and thus has not overcome the presumption in favor of the
sentence imposed. See Damme, 944 N.W.2d at 106.
Similarly, with regard to the imposition of consecutive sentences, the court
explained its decision it was “based on the heinous nature of the crime and the
attempted cover-up and obstruction of prosecution.” Again, the court did not
specify whether the crime referred to was the murder of Williams or the crime of 6
abuse of a corpse. Notwithstanding, for the same reasons we noted relative to the
imposition of the sentences, we conclude Garner has not affirmatively
demonstrated the court relied upon an improper factor in imposing consecutive
sentences. Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.