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Case No. 23-1248

In the Matter of Property Seized for Forfeiture from Darrell Anthony Jones

Darrell Anthony Jones, Appellant

Attorney for Appellant

Jamie Hunter

Attorney for Appellee State

Martha E. Trout, Assistant Attorney General

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
23-1248
Date Published:
Oct 30, 2024
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wapello County, Greg Milani, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Heard by Tabor, C.J., and Ahlers and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Sandy, J.  (17 pages)

            Darrell Jones appeals the district court’s combined forfeiture order forfeiting over $85,000 in U.S. currency seized during two separate searches of his residence.  On appeal, he argues that (1) there was insufficient evidence that all the currency forfeited were the proceeds of marijuana trafficking; (2) the forfeitures violated the Excessive Fine Clauses of the state and federal constitutions; and (3) the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over one of the forfeiture actions.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the ruling of the district court, finding that (1) substantial evidence supported the district court’s finding the currency seized during the two searches were proceeds of marijuana trafficking; (2) error was not preserved on Jones’s Excessive Fine Clause arguments; and (3) Jones’s subject matter jurisdiction claim is really a challenge to the district court’s authority, which was waived because it was not raised in the district court. 

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