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State of Iowa v. Lionel Cano Vela
Citation: Not availableDocket: 18-0701
Court: Court of Appeals of Iowa; December 4, 2018; Iowa; State Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
Lionel Vela appealed his five-year sentence for forgery after pleading guilty. In exchange for his plea, the State dismissed one count of second-degree theft and refrained from seeking a habitual-offender enhancement. Vela argued that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him. Sentencing decisions are reviewed for legal errors, with a presumption favoring the imposed sentence if within statutory limits. The court must articulate its reasons for the chosen sentence and consider various factors, including the offense's nature, circumstances, and the defendant's character and potential for rehabilitation. During the sentencing hearing, the district court emphasized the seriousness of Vela's crime, his criminal history, and the fact he committed the forgery shortly after being released from federal prison while on supervised release. The court also considered the presentence investigator's recommendation in deciding the sentence. The appellate court found that the district court properly exercised its discretion, noting that while Vela suggested other factors should have been considered, this did not demonstrate error. The sentence was deemed reasonable and based on appropriate grounds, leading to the affirmation of the lower court's decision.