IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 14-2139
Filed March 8, 2017
STATE OF IOWA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
CORY JAMES BAUER,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, James D. Coil,
District Associate Judge.
Cory Bauer appeals following convictions and sentences entered on four
charges. AFFIRMED.
Robert B. Brock II of the Law Office of Robert B. Brock II, P.C., Le Mars,
for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Kyle Hanson, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Considered by Bower, P.J., McDonald, J., and Mahan, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2017).
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MAHAN, Senior Judge.
Following a bench trial on the minutes in these consolidated cases, Corey
Bauer was found guilty of assault causing bodily injury, in violation of Iowa Code
section 708.2(2) (2014); possession of marijuana, in violation of section
124.401(5); domestic abuse assault by strangulation, in violation of section
708.2A(2)(d); and domestic abuse assault causing injury, in violation of section
708.2A(2)(b). The district court made findings of fact that Bauer assaulted his
mother-in-law causing bodily injury on July 5, 2014; possessed marijuana on July
9; and on July 8, caused bruises to his former wife’s elbow and wrist and also
strangled her to the point she was not able to breathe for a time.
On December 15, the district court held a sentencing hearing on three
cases against Bauer. The court sentenced Bauer to two 180-day jail terms with
all but fourteen days suspended in case SRCR199535 (the assault causing
bodily injury and possession charges). In case AGCR199536 (the domestic
charges), the court sentenced him to two 365-day jail terms with all but ten days
suspended. The sentences in both cases were to run concurrently to the
sentence in a third case (not before us), SRCR197089, in which Bauer had pled
guilty to possession of marijuana. The court continued a no-contact order
between Bauer and the victims of the assaults but modified the order to permit
Bauer to have contact with his child while supervised.
On appeal, Bauer raises several issues that would be relevant had he pled
guilty,1 but because he was found guilty after a trial to the court, we do not
1
Bauer contends the court did not meet the requirements of Iowa Rule of Criminal
Procedure 2.8(2)(b), (c), and (d)—all of which relate to guilty pleas. He also contends
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address them. Bauer also asserts the district court did not allow him to address
the court prior to sentencing, which is belied by the record.2 Several other issues
are mentioned in passing, which present nothing for this court to review. See
State v. Louwrens, 792 N.W.2d 649, 650 n.1 (Iowa 2010) (“[P]assing reference to
an issue, unsupported by authority or argument, is insufficient to raise the issue
on appeal.”).
Bauer challenges the court assessing to him the cost of the court-
appointed attorney’s fees ($315 for appointed counsel on the serious
misdemeanor and $615 on the aggravated misdemeanor). As we read the brief,
Bauer asserts because the district court failed to make a specific finding that
Bauer’s income was at or below 125% of the poverty level, the court could not
assess the costs of the attorney to him. We disagree.
Bauer submitted a “financial affidavit/application for appointment of
counsel,” stating he was unemployed and claiming no income or assets. The
court found Bauer indigent and appointed counsel. Bauer is twenty-three years
old, and nothing in this record establishes he is incapable of working. The record
also reflects the availability of a payment plan, allowing Bauer the ability to make
small payments rather than a large lump sum. See Iowa Code § 815.9(3) (“If a
person is granted an appointed attorney, the person shall be required to
his defense counsel was ineffective in not requiring the court to concur with a plea
agreement—there was no plea agreement related to these charges.
2
The following occurred at the sentencing hearing:
THE COURT: Mr. Bauer, under Iowa law you have the right to
speak in your own behalf in addition to what your attorney may have
already said before sentence is imposed. Is there anything you wish to
say?
THE DEFENDANT: I’m sorry for my—I’m sorry for my actions. I
want to be a positive member of society, and I ask you for this opportunity
to better myself and move on from this.
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reimburse the state for the total cost of legal assistance provided to the person
pursuant to this section.”). We find no abuse of the court’s discretion in this
regard.
Bauer further contends the court erroneously ordered him to pay costs of
a dismissed charge, a simple misdemeanor. Bauer has not sought discretionary
review in this matter and has no appeal of right. See id. § 814.6(1)(a). In any
event, Bauer agreed to pay the costs in exchange for the dismissal of the charge.
We note the following colloquy:
PROSECUTOR: It’s my understanding that Mr. Abbott
[defense counsel] and I are going to stipulate that the substance
was, in fact, marijuana. There was also a companion simple
misdemeanor charge, Your Honor, for possession of drug
paraphernalia, and the State would be willing to dismiss that at Mr.
Bauer’s costs.
THE COURT: Is that a correct statement, Mr. Abbott?
MR. ABBOTT: It is, Your Honor. We’re willing to stipulate it’s
marijuana, and we agree with the dismissal of the companion
citation.
THE COURT: All right. And, Mr. Bauer, you’ve heard the
comments of your attorney, and do you agree with those comments
and will stipulate that the substance found was marijuana?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Very well. I will, then, mark the matter
submitted, and I will issue a written ruling in this case and enter
appropriate orders.
Finally, Bauer contends the court should have lifted the no-contact order.
In this regard, defense counsel informed the district court the parties had
divorced since the charges were filed and, pursuant to the dissolution decree,
visitation is at the discretion of Bauer’s former wife. Defense counsel stated,
So if [the former wife] doesn’t [d]eem visitation appropriate, then
visitation wouldn’t occur. However, they both acknowledge that
contact with [the child] and Mr. Bauer is beneficial to [the child],
which is why they’ve agreed on a neutral third party that both have
agreed upon in order to arrange the visitation and contact.
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The court concluded:
I will amend the no-contact order in case AGCR199536 to
allow you visits with the child. However, the visits will remain
supervised in the discretion of [the former wife]. If she wishes that
they remain supervised, they are to remain supervised until she
feels that in her own mind that it is safe to allow you to have
unsupervised visits with your son.
We will not disturb this ruling.
Having considered all issues raised and finding no error, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.