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Case No. 22-1952

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In re Detention of Austin Sims

Austin Michael Sims, Respondent-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant

Jill Eimermann

Guardian ad Litem for Appellant

Nathaniel Schwickerath

Attorney for Appellee State

Linda J. Hines and Keisha F. Cretsinger, Assistant Attorneys General

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
22-1952
Date Published:
Jun 19, 2024
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Chickasaw County, Richard D. Stochl, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Tabor, P.J., Badding, J., and Blane, S.J.  Opinion by Blane, S.J.  (18 pages)

            Austin Sims appeals the finding he committed second-degree sexual abuse and the admission of hearsay testimony and forensic recorded interviews under the residual hearsay exception in Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.807.  OPINION HOLDS: The trial court correctly found the video recorded forensic interviews were properly admissible under the residual hearsay exception and there was substantial evidence that Sims committed sex abuse to support the sexual violent predator determination and commitment.  Admission of other hearsay evidence, if erroneous, was harmless.  So we affirm the determination Sims committed sexual abuse. 

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