State of Iowa v. Sean Neal Delacy
State of Iowa v. Sean Neal Delacy
Opinion
Sean Delacy appeals the district court's order requiring him to pay restitution following his convictions for sexual exploitation of a minor and lascivious acts with a child. We deny Delacy's claim the restitution order and plan is improper. We affirm the restitution order and restitution plan.
I. Background Facts & Proceedings
Delacy pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor, in violation of Iowa Code section 728.12(1) (2015), and lascivious acts with a child, in violation of section 709.8(1)(a), both class "C" felonies. On April 25, 2016, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed ten years on each count, to be served consecutively. The court stated on the record, "The defendant shall pay court costs, victim restitution, if there is any, and the cost of court-appointed counsel. Based on the defendant's financial situation, $100 is the amount that I conclude the defendant is reasonably able to pay."
Delacy filed his first notice of appeal on May 10, claiming he received ineffective assistance because defense counsel did not inform him he could be assessed surcharges. We affirmed his convictions and preserved his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel for postconviction relief.
See
State v. Delacy
, No. 16-0827,
The State filed a statement of pecuniary loss on October 14, 2015, showing restitution totaling $2347.92 to the Iowa Crime Victim Compensation Program. Prior to Delacy's appeal, on May 10, the State filed an application for restitution, asking the court to amend the judgment entry to require Delacy to pay restitution in this amount. The court entered an order on May 11, the day after Delacy appealed, ordering Delacy to pay restitution of $2347.92. A restitution plan was filed on August 17, 2017, showing Delacy owed costs of $694.49, fines of $2000.00, surcharges of $700.00, and restitution of $2347.92. Delacy appeals the court's August 17 order. 1
II. Discussion
Delacy claims a procedural due process violation because restitution was ordered against him on May 11, 2016, without notice and an opportunity to be heard. Our review of a restitution order is for the correction of errors at law.
State v. Coleman
,
"[A] defendant challenging a restitution order entered as part of the original sentence has two options: to file a petition in district court under section 910.7, or to file a direct appeal."
State v. Blank
,
The time for a direct appeal expired on May 25, 2016, thirty days after the judgment entry was filed on April 25.
See
State v. Hallock
,
Additionally, Delacy could have filed a petition under section 910.7(1) challenging the restitution order within thirty days after the order was filed on May 11, 2016.
See
State v. Jose
,
The record shows Delacy did not file a petition under section 910.7(1) -within thirty days or at all. Delacy took no action to challenge the restitution order until he filed his notice of appeal on September 22, 2017. He could have challenged the restitution plan or restitution plan of payment at any time under the provisions in section 910.7. In his appellate brief, Delacy acknowledges he did not follow the proper procedure to challenge the restitution order under section 910.7.
Delacy asks to have his case remanded to the district court for a restitution hearing with court-appointed counsel. He did not make a timely request for a restitution hearing under section 910.7 in order for such a proceeding to be considered a continuation of his criminal proceedings, where he would have the right to court-appointed counsel.
See
Delacy can still file a petition for a restitution hearing under section 910.7, although at this point the action would be civil, rather than criminal in nature.
See
Blank
,
We find Delacy's claim he was denied procedural due process is disingenuous because he did not avail himself of the statutory procedure in section 910.7 to challenge the restitution order. We deny Delacy's claim the restitution order is improper. We affirm the restitution order and restitution plan.
AFFIRMED.
Delacy filed the notice of appeal on September 22, 2017, and filed a motion for delayed appeal with the Iowa Supreme Court. The supreme court ruled, "Upon consideration, this court determines the appellant exhibited a timely intent to appeal from the district court's August 17, 2017 order. The appellant's motion for delayed appeal is granted." (Citation omitted).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.