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State of Iowa
v.
Abel Quijas, Jr.
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Abel Quijas, Jr.
Attorney for the Appellee
Martha E. Trout, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Martha J. Lucey, Assistant Appellate Defender
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Fayette County, David P. Odekirk and Richard D. Stochl, Judges. REVERSED AND REMANDED. Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Mullins and McDonald, JJ. Opinion by McDonald, J. (7 pages)
Abel Quijas, Jr. appeals the district court’s dismissal of his petition to modify restitution. On appeal, Quijas argues (1) he is entitled to assistance of counsel to challenge the restitution order, (2) the imposition of room-and-board restitution without a hearing creates an illegal sentence—entitling him to assistance of counsel, and (3) he is entitled to a hearing to determine if he has the reasonable ability to pay the ordered restitution. OPINION HOLDS: Because Quijas filed his petition more than thirty days after judgment entry his claim is civil in nature, and he is not entitled to assistance of counsel. The imposition of room-and-board restitution without a hearing does not amount to an illegal sentence. Because on its face, Quijas’s petition is not frivolous, the district court abused its discretion in denying the petition without a hearing.