State of Iowa v. Christopher Joseph Hidlebaugh

Summary

The court held that it had jurisdiction to review Hidlebaugh’s sentence because his constitutional challenge established good cause under Iowa’s guilty-plea appellate-jurisdiction statute. On the merits, it held that imprisoning him based in part on his failure to purchase a home, despite his prima facie showing of good-faith efforts and inability to satisfy the financial obligation, violated due process and equal protection. The court vacated the sentence and remanded for resentencing without reliance on the plea agreement’s prison recommendation unless the court finds that Hidlebaugh failed to use best efforts.