State v. Haggins

OPINION

HUDSON, Judge.

Appellant challenges his conviction of fourth-degree assault of a correctional officer and his sentence of 18 months on the grounds that the district court (1) discharged the public defender without obtaining a valid waiver of appellant’s right to counsel, and (2) upwardly departed from the presumptive sentence without making sufficient findings. Because appellant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to counsel, we affirm the conviction. But because the district court did not state substantial and compelling reasons for the upward departure, we…