Defendant, Timothy Howard Johnson, appeals from his conviction based upon a jury verdict against him for robbery in the first degree, in violation of section 711.2, The Code 1979. He asserts that trial court erred: 1) in imposing the minimum sentence provided in section 902.7, The Code, because the jury had not specifically found that he used a firearm in the perpetration of the robbery; 2) in failing to suppress certain evidence seized with use of a search warrant allegedly based on a false account of facts in affidavits filed by police officers; 3) in failing to exercise its discretion in sentencing him; and 4) in denying his request for a continuance when a witness failed to obey a subpoena. We affirm.
I. Scope of Review. Since this is an action at law, our review is on assigned error only. Iowa R.App.P. 4.
II. Minimum Sentence. Defendant argues that the jury’s failure to make a specific finding as to defendant’s use of a firearm precludes imposition of the minimum sentence provided in section 902.7, The Code. We disagree.
Section 902.7 provides:
Minimum sentence — use of a firearm. At the trial of a person charged with participating in a forcible felony, if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty of a forcible felony and that the person represented that he or she was in the immediate possession and control of a firearm, displayed a firearm in a threatening manner, or was armed with a firearm while participating in the forcible felony the convicted person shall serve a minimum of five years of the sentence imposed by law. A person sentenced pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for parole until he or she has served the minimum sentence of confinement imposed by this section.
The jury’s verdict stated simply that “we, the jury, find the defendant guilty of the crime of robbery in the first degree.” No reference was made in the verdict to defendant’s possession, display, or use of a firearm. In light of the instructions given the jury by the trial court, we believe that the jury necessarily found that the defendant was armed with a firearm, while committing a robbery, when it found him guilty of robbery in the first degree.
We note first that section 711.2, The Code, provides that “[a] person commits robbery in the first degree when, perpetrating a robbery, the person inflicts or attempts to inflict serious injury, or is armed with a dangerous weapon. A “dangerous weapon” includes, but is not limited to, firearms. § 702.7, The Code. Robbery in the first degree is a forcible felony. § 702.11, The Code.
The jury was instructed as follows:
INSTRUCTION NO. 6
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Robbery in the first degree occurs when a person, while perpetrating the robbery, is armed with a dangerous weapon. Otherwise, it’s robbery in the second degree.
INSTRUCTION NO. 7
In order to convict the defendant of the crime of robbery in the first degree the State must prove by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt each and all of the following propositions.
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4. That at the time the defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon.
INSTRUCTION NO. 12
You are instructed that a shotgun is a dangerous weapon.
The evidence at trial was that defendant took $8,400 from the victim at gunpoint. The victim testified that defendant pointed a single-barrel shotgun towards him and demanded that the victim throw his bags of money down. There was no testimony that could possibly be construed to indicate that the “dangerous weapon” was other than a firearm, or that defendant otherwise attempted to inflict serious injury. The only possible conclusion trial court could have reached, from the jury’s verdict, was that the jury found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant accomplished the robbery while armed with a firearm. We conclude, therefore, that trial court correctly applied section 902.7, The Code.
III. Suppression of Evidence. The defendant further asserts that evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant should have been suppressed due to the warrant’s invalidity. He specifically alleges that the police officers gave a false account to the magistrate by failing to give a full account of the known facts relevant to defendant’s guilt or innocence in their affidavits. We disagree.
In
State v. Boyd,
After a review of the various, and sometimes conflicting, conclusions of the other courts, we now adopt a rule permitting a defendant to inquire into the truth of the representations upon which a search warrant has been issued only upon a preliminary showing under oath that an agent or representative of the state has: (1) intentionally made false or untrue statements or otherwise practiced fraud upon the magistrate; or (2) that a material statement made by such agent or representative is false, whether intentional or not. If defendant proves either of the above by a preponderance of the evidence, the search warrant shall be invalidated and the evidence seized thereunder shall be inadmissible.
IV. Sentencing Discretion. Defendant argues that trial court failed to set forth its reasons for imposing the particular sentence and that, as a result, it is impossi
V. Continuance. Defendant finally argues that trial court’s refusal to grant a continuance, when a police officer who had been previously subpoenaed failed to appear on a succeeding day of trial, requires this court to grant a new trial. We find no merit in this contention.
Defendant is not entitled to reversal unless he can demonstrate not only an abuse of discretion, but prejudice as well.
See State v. Gartin,
It is well settled that failure to make an offer of proof of excluded testimony leaves nothing for review.
In re Estate of Herm,
Having found no error, we affirm trial court’s judgment.
AFFIRMED.
