State of Iowa
v.
Matthew James Williams
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Matthew James Williams
Attorney for the Appellee
Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Jack Bjornstad
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Tom Reidel, Judge. SENTENCES VACATED AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING WITH DIRECTIONS. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Ahlers and Badding, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, J. (8 pages)
Matthew Williams appeals his sentences following his guilty plea. He claims (1) the State breached the plea agreement by not advocating for the agreed-upon sentence, (2) the district court failed to provide reasons for sentencing him to consecutive sentences, (3) and the court erred by not letting him withdraw his guilty plea once it decided it would not be bound by the plea agreement. OPINION HOLDS: The State failed to provide any support for its sentencing recommendation and breached the plea agreement. We remand for resentencing and do not address Williams’s claim that the court failed to provide reasons for imposing consecutive sentences. On remand, if the court refuses to be bound by the plea agreement, it must permit Williams to withdraw his guilty plea.
