Iowa Supreme Court · No. 24-1848
State of Iowa v. Richard Allen Sharples
Decided May 29, 2026 · appeal from Scott County · Criminal
What the court decided
AI summary The defendant challenged his burglary convictions and the increased penalties applied to his sentence. He argued that the legal process used to label him a habitual offender was incorrect and that the court used improper factors during sentencing. The court affirmed the original judgment, meaning the convictions and the enhanced sentence remain in place.1
Result: Decision of Court of Appeals Vacated; District Court Judgment Affirmed
The court’s own summary
Richard Sharples appealed from judgments for burglary in the second degree (one count) and burglary in the third degree (three counts), following guilty pleas. The court of appeals affirmed. On further review, Mr. Sharples argues the habitual offender enhancements were illegal because the predicate out-of-state convictions occurred in the wrong order. He also argues the district court relied on improper sentencing factors.
Holding: A criminal defendant seeks further review of a court of appeals decision that affirmed the habitual offender enhancement to his sentence. Decision of Court of Appeals Vacated; District Court Judgment Affirmed.
Judges
- Written by Justice Thomas D. Waterman
- Trial judge: Jeffrey C. McDaniel, Scott County
Iowa Code it cites
§321J.2§713.5§713.6A§747.5§902.3§902.8§902.9§908.2
Each links to the bills that change that chapter.