State of Iowa
v.
Melvin William Spencer III
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Melvin William Spencer III
Attorney for the Appellee
Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Melinda J. Nye, Assistant Appellate Defender
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, John D. Ackerman, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Doyle and Mullins, JJ. Opinion by Doyle, J. (17 pages)
Melvin Spencer appeals his conviction following a jury trial for attempted murder. OPINION HOLDS: Upon our review of the record, we do not find the district court abused its discretion when it ruled the evidence relating to the baggie of cocaine found at the scene was admissible because it was relevant, admissible for a non-character purpose, and more probative than prejudicial. Nevertheless, even if the district court abused its discretion, the error was harmless under the facts of the case and does not warrant reversal. Finally, we preserve for possible postconviction-relief proceedings Spencer’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims. Accordingly, we affirm Spencer’s conviction and sentence.