STATE v. SHOCKEY (2021)

Court of Appeals of Iowa.2021-04-28No. No. 19-1898

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court affirmed the prison sentence, finding the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing incarceration rather than probation.

Jeffery Shockey was convicted of credit card fraud as a habitual offender after using a former employer's gas card without permission to purchase fuel on multiple occasions, totaling over $1,400 in charges. The district court sentenced him to a prison term not exceeding fifteen years with a mandatory minimum of three years, despite a presentence investigation report recommending probation. Shockey appealed, arguing that he was a suitable candidate for probation based on his full-time employment, family responsibilities, ability to pay restitution, and the non-violent nature of his offense.

On review, the court affirmed the sentence, finding no abuse of discretion. Although the court acknowledged that probation would have been a legally justified option, it determined that incarceration was equally justified given Shockey's criminal history—this being his fourth felony—and his failure to demonstrate remorse for his actions. The sentencing court also considered his age of forty-one years, reasoning that at that stage of life he should have known better. The court was not required to follow the presentence report's recommendation and properly relied on legitimate factors in reaching its sentencing decision.

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Key issues

Whether the district court abused its discretion in imposing a prison sentence despite a presentence report recommending probation
The appropriate weight given to defendant's employment, family status, and restitution capacity in sentencing decisions
The relevance of criminal history and lack of remorse to sentencing discretion

Procedural posture

The defendant appealed his sentence following a guilty plea to credit card fraud as a habitual offender.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

Without authorization, Jeffery Shockey used a company gas card taken from his former employer to buy fuel fifteen times, spending more than $1,400. Shockey pleaded guilty to credit card fraud as a habitual offender. He received a prison sentence not to exceed fifteen years with a mandatory minimum term of three years. On appeal, he asserts the district court should have granted him probation as recommended by the presentence investigation (PSI) report.

Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the sentence.

We review sentencing challenges for correction of legal error. State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 724 (Iowa 2002). Shockey acknowledges his indeterminate fifteen-year sentence fell within statutory limits for the enhanced class “D” felony. See Iowa Code §§ 715A.6(1)(a), 715A.6(2)(b), 902.8, 902.9(1)(c) (2019). So the sentencing decision “is cloaked with a strong presumption in its favor.” Formaro, 638 N.W.2d at 724. We will reverse if the district court abused its discretion in picking the punishment or if the sentencing hearing was defective. Damme, 944 N.W.2d at 103. But our role is not to “second guess” the selected sentence. Id. at 106. Rather, we verify that the court did not rely on untenable or unreasonable grounds or rationale. Id.

To overcome the presumption in favor of the sentence, Shockey argues that he was a good candidate for probation for four reasons: (1) he worked full-time; (2) he had young children to raise; (3) he would be better able to pay restitution outside prison; and (4) he was “not convicted of a violent crime or drug offense that would pose an imminent safety risk to the public.” He emphasizes that the PSI report recommended a suspended sentence and probation under the supervision of the Seventh Judicial District, Department of Correctional Services. Shockey argues the PSI preparer was in a better position than the court to gauge his potential for success on probation.

No doubt, on this record the district court would have been justified in granting probation to Shockey. But “it is equally clear under our standard of review that the district court was justified in imposing incarceration.” See Formaro, 638 N.W.2d at 725. The district court reasoned:

In looking through the presentence investigation, two things really stuck out at me. One is that this is your fourth felony. The second one is there really isnt any statements of remorse regarding this action, and even today you have not stated any real statement of remorse, which made me very concerned about the likelihood that probation would be a fruitful endeavor.

As part of its exercise of discretion, the court was free to focus on Shockeys criminal record and his failure to express regret for his actions.

See State v. Knight, 701 N.W.2d 83, 88 (Iowa 2005) (holding lack of remorse was “highly pertinent” to defendants need for rehabilitation and chances of reform). The court also considered that Shockey was forty-one years old. The court told him: “[T]hats well past the age where we should know better and not do these kind of things.” See State v. Castorena, No. 19-1652, 2020 WL 6157797, at *1–2 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 21, 2020) (discerning no abuse of discretion when sentencing court told forty-one-year-old defendant that his crime could not be chalked up to youthful indiscretion). The court tracked the PSI but was not bound by its bottom line. See State v. Headley, 926 N.W.2d 545, 552 (Iowa 2019). The court did not abuse its discretion by reaching a different prediction of Shockeys prospects for succeeding outside of prison. All in all, the court relied on appropriate factors in rejecting Shockeys request for probation.

We decline to disturb the prison sentence imposed.

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

. Under Iowa Code section 814.6 (2020), defendants cannot appeal a conviction following a guilty plea (other than class “A” felonies) without good cause. Good cause exists when a defendant challenges the sentence rather than the plea. State v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020). Because Shockey is challenging his sentence, he has good cause to appeal.

. Shockey told the PSI preparer that he did not believe that his conviction was appropriate or fair because he faced “wrongful charges.”

TABOR, Judge.