State v. Pappas

HARRIS, Justice.

Defendant, a Mason City attorney, entered guilty pleas to perjury (Iowa Code § 720.2 (1981)) and first degree theft (Iowa Code §§ 714.1(2), 714.2(1) and 714.3 (1981)). He appealed after he was given concurrent five year (for perjury) and ten year (for theft) sentences. The court of appeals found that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing probation. On further review we vacate the decision of the court of appeals and reinstate the judgment of the trial court.

At the time of his plea, defendant was sixty-one years old and had practiced law since 1948. He was a…