Date: 04-07-2016

Case Style: STATE OF IOWA vs. WILLIS CHRISTOPHER DAVIS JR.

Case Number: 15-1221

Judge: Nancy Tabor

Court: Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Sheryl A. Soich

Plaintiff's Attorney: Thomas J. Miller, Sheryl A. Soich

Defendant's Attorney: Mark C. Smith, Nan N. Jennisch

Description: Willis Davis Jr. assaulted his live-in girlfriend as she struggled to leave
during an argument in May 2015. A neighbor called the police. When arrested,
Davis told the police he was “just wrestling around” with his girlfriend. The State
originally charged Davis with domestic abuse assault causing injury—third
offense. After plea negotiations, Davis accepted the State’s offer to plead guilty
to the amended charge of domestic abuse assault causing injury—second
offense. In June 2015 the court sentenced Davis to an indeterminate two-year
term of incarceration and ordered him to complete a domestic abuse education
program. Davis appeals his sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor argued for incarceration,
detailing Davis’s “extensive criminal history.” The prosecutor also discussed
Davis’s probation history, asserting: “The fact [Davis] is here before the Court
again in a relatively short time after having been convicted of those offenses and
having been placed on probation makes the statement that he has not been
rehabilitated.” Finally, the prosecutor argued the nature of Davis’s offense
justified incarceration—he “bit the victim on her chest, leaving injury. He also
kicked her in the buttocks as she was attempting to get away from him. The fact
that this is his fifth domestic violence conviction . . . justifies incarceration.”
Defense counsel admitted Davis had a “considerable” criminal history but
urged the court to sentence him to supervised probation because he had
successfully completed his past probations. Defense counsel also emphasized
Davis’s stable work history and his family obligations, contending those factors
would encourage Davis to complete probation. Davis told the court he was sorry
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for his actions and sought another chance so he could take care of his children.
In sentencing Davis to prison, the court provided a detailed explanation of
its reasons. The court first discussed Davis’s age, family obligations, and
employment history:
The court has before it today a man approximately fortyeight years of age. He has pled guilty to a charge of aggravated domestic assault. The court is informed that [Davis] has some minor children. He has some child-support obligations. He indicates that he’s been employed gainfully for significant periods of time in the past . . . . [While Davis] indicated he was not employed [during his initial appearance,] he does indicate that he has a current employment prospect at this time.
The sentencing court then turned to Davis’s prior record:
[Davis] does have a significant prior criminal history. This conviction for aggravated domestic assault would represent the fifth conviction for domestic assault on [his] record. In addition, his record also includes other assaults and first-degree robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and some other thefts and operating while intoxicated offenses. The court has received some information, confirmed it through review of the criminal history, to the effect that Mr. Davis has been placed on probation at least three times in the past. He reports that he has not had probation revoked, and the criminal history would seem to affirm that. The concern that the court has, though, is that despite the fact that [Davis] has been successful on probation in the past, that form of community supervision has evidently not sufficed to change [his] criminal thinking and criminal actions. And in spite of those past efforts at rehabilitation, [Davis] continues to commit crimes of a violent nature.
Finally, the court synthesized those circumstances in reaching its
decision to order incarceration:
And the court, in imposing this sentence, considers all of that background information and also considers the facts and circumstances surrounding this particular event, and specifically considers the harm to [his girlfriend] in this case. And [Davis’s] apparent need for rehabilitation and also [the court] has a concern for the general protection of the community.
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. . . [T]he Court determines, . . . given the fact that this is the fifth domestic assault conviction on [his] record, that community supervision at this point is ineffectual and would not serve any useful purpose, and that it is not appropriate in this case.
Davis raises a single claim on appeal, challenging the court’s written
sentencing order, which stated: “The reasons for this sentence include the
following: [Davis’s] age; prior criminal history; attitude toward rehabilitation; facts
and circumstances of this case; family and employment circumstances; need for
protection of the community and deterrent impact upon Defendant and others
similarly situated.” Davis argues the court’s written order constituted an abuse of
discretion because the court “seemingly used” the factors of “family and
employment circumstances” as a justification for a harsh sentence instead of
recognizing those factors as mitigating against a prison term. He seeks
resentencing before a different judge.
We review Davis’s challenge to his sentence for an abuse of discretion;
any abuse of discretion necessarily results in legal error. See State v. Valin, 724
N.W.2d 440, 444 (Iowa 2006). “An abuse of discretion will not be found unless
we are able to discern that the decision was exercised on grounds or for reasons
that were clearly untenable or unreasonable.” State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d
720, 724 (Iowa 2002). A sentencing court must examine “all pertinent
information” and then determine an authorized sentence providing the “maximum
opportunity for the rehabilitation of the defendant, and for the protection of the
community from further offenses by the defendant and others.” Iowa Code
§ 901.5 (2015). Before suspending sentence, the court must consider the
defendant’s prior record of convictions or deferred judgments, employment
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status, family circumstances, and any other relevant factors. Formaro, 638
N.W.2d at 725.
The district court imposed a sentence within the statutory limit. Thus, the
court’s sentence is “cloaked with a strong presumption in its favor.” Id. at 724.
We view the court’s written order as merely setting out the factors the court
considered in reaching its sentence. No language in the written statement
supports Davis’s claim the court viewed his “family and employment
circumstances” as an aggravating factor. Instead, the court’s written
pronouncement is consistent with its oral recognition of the same factors and its
assurance at the hearing that “the court, in imposing this sentence, considers all
of that background information.”
Even if we assume, without deciding, some conflict exists between the
court’s written order and its detailed oral pronouncement of sentence, the court’s
oral pronouncement controls. See State v. Hess, 533 N.W.2d 525, 528 (Iowa
1995) (ruling new sentencing hearing unnecessary; “a proper sentence had been
orally pronounced on the record”). The court clearly stated its rationale at the
hearing and was rightfully concerned Davis had not been rehabilitated by past
probationary stints. The court crafted the sentence to ensure Davis addressed
the underlying causes of his domestic violence, while protecting the public from
his continued criminal activity. The sentence is not clearly unreasonable or
based upon untenable grounds.

Outcome: Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the sentence.

AFFIRMED.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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