Iowa Supreme Court affirms Mason City man’s domestic abuse assault sentence

MASON CITY — A Mason City man has lost an appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court of his domestic abuse assault sentence.

Scott Luke pleaded guilty in 2021 to two counts of domestic abuse assault, both aggravated misdemeanors, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years probation. The following year, Luke violated the terms of his probation by committing another domestic assault. He entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to a reduced charge of domestic abuse assault second offense.

A district court judge revoked the probation on the earlier charges and imposed the original prison term and also sentenced Luke to two years on the new domestic abuse charge. Luke appealed his sentence, saying the district court abused its discretion when he was sentenced to prison time.

The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the sentence this past August, and on further review, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the sentence in a decision released on Friday.