Martin Beaulieu
v.
State of Iowa
Appellant
Martin Beaulieu
Appellee
State of Iowa
Attorney for the Appellant
Peter M. Sand
Attorney for the Appellee
Tyler J. Buller, Assistant Attorney General
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Scott J. Beattie, Judge. REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Ahlers, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, J. (10 pages)
Martin Beaulieu appeals the district court’s dismissal of his postconviction relief (PCR). Beaulieu’s case differs from common PCR claims in two ways. First, he waived his right to counsel, and second, he was charged with simple misdemeanors. Beaulieu contends that he presented sufficient reason for not raising a timely appeal to his guilty pleas and was prejudiced as a result. OPINION HOLDS: Because we find Beaulieu’s health crisis constituted sufficient reason for his untimely appeal, we reverse the district court’s decision and remand with directions.
