State of Iowa v. Ronald Richard Pagliai

Summary

The court held that a district court lacks statutory authority to assess costs in criminal cases dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement when no judgment of conviction exists. The parties' agreement, waiver, or reliance cannot confer that authority, although the court retained subject-matter jurisdiction over the pending cases. The court vacated the convictions, sentences, and dispositional orders and remanded to permit the State to choose between removing the unauthorized costs or vacating the entire plea bargain and reinstating the dismissed charges if appropriate.