Richard Spence v. Crispus C. Nix, Warden, Iowa State Penitentiary

LAY, Chief Judge.

Richard Spence appeals the district court’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus concerning his life sentence on state convictions for rape, assault with intent to commit rape, and kidnapping. Spence claims his guilty pleas were involuntary and unknowing due to his attorney’s assurance that he would receive no more than a thirty-year sentence. He asserts the ineffectiveness of his appellate counsel as cause for his procedural default. We affirm.

Facts

In 1977, Spence was charged in an Iowa state court with rape, assault with intent to commit rape, kidnapping,…