Skip to main content
Iowa Judicial Branch
Main Content

Case No. 20-0245

State of Iowa
v.
Heath Richard Church

Appellee

State of Iowa

Appellant

Heath Richard Church

Attorney for the Appellee

Genevieve Reinkoester, Assistant Attorney General

Attorney for the Appellant

Patrick W. O'Bryan

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
20-0245
Date Published:
Nov 04, 2020
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Sarah Crane, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ.  Opinion by Schumacher, J.  (14 pages)

            Heath Church appeals his convictions for burglary in the first degree, assault causing bodily injury, and stalking, arguing the district court erred in admitting evidence of his prior bad acts, denying his motion for judgment of acquittal, and excluding certain impeachment evidence.  OPINION HOLDS: It was within the district court’s discretion to admit prior bad acts evidence as its probative value was not substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice, the record contains substantial evidence to support the jury’s finding, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding impeachment evidence. 

© 2024 Iowa Judicial Branch. All Rights Reserved.