State v. Hook

SNELL, Justice.

This is a direct appeal from the district court decision accepting the defendant’s written guilty plea to a felony. We are asked to consider the procedures required when a defendant enters a guilty plea to a felony. We find the procedures utilized by the court in accepting the guilty plea were inadequate. We hold the plea was invalid and therefore reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

I. Factual Background and Procedure

The defendant, Larry Lee Hook, pled guilty to one count of possession with the intent to deliver, a class “D” felony. See Iowa Code §§…