For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here.
State of Iowa
v.
Barret Eugene Vonk
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Barret Eugene Vonk
Attorney for the Appellee
Sheryl Soich, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Austin William Jungblut
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Story County, Bethany J. Currie, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Ahlers, P.J., and Chicchelly and Buller, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, P.J. (11 pages)
Barrett Vonk appeals his conviction and the district court’s ruling on his motion for a new trial. He argues (1) the jury’s verdict was against the greater weight of the evidence, (2) the district court should have excluded evidence of a pretextual call made to Vonk by the victim and her roommate, (3) the district court allowed improper vouching testimony, and (4) the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct by placing a sex toy on counsel table in view of the jury. OPINION HOLDS: The district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the guilty verdict was not contrary to the weight of the evidence or in admitting evidence of the pretextual call. Vonk failed to preserve error on his final two claims. We affirm.