This past year saw Republicans promise to take action against illegal drugs in Iowa, a state which has been hit hard by America's opioid epidemic.

The state Supreme Court gave them reason to cheer last week when it unanimously upheld a six-year prison sentence for a man with prior narcotics convictions. 

Evidence obtained during warrantless search carried out by federal agents

According to the Time-Republican, Iowa's highest judicial body agreed with the Polk County District Court's decision to put Artell Young behind bars.

The Des Moines man was found guilty of possessing crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana, with the drugs being discovered in his home by federal probation agents.

That search was carried out by a dozen agents and was predicated on information obtained 1o months earlier from a confidential informant.

While federal authorities ultimately decided not to pursue charges against Young, state prosecutors opted to do so based on evidence which was obtained during the search.

Melinda Nye is Young's attorney, and she argued that the drugs were inadmissible as her client's home had been searched without a warrant in violation of the Iowa Constitution.

Assistant attorney general points to earlier Iowa case from 2017

However, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Louis Sloven countered that Young had consented to such searches as part of a federal probation agreement.

Iowa Supreme Court upholds decision on drug possession conviction — Oral hearings were held at MHS last monthhttps://t.co/cKVjeZjQNc pic.twitter.com/4wnnkNlP9U

— Times-Republican (@marshalltowntr) December 24, 2024

In support of his argument, Sloven pointed to the Iowa Supreme Court's holding in a 2017 case called State v. Ramirez.

It found that evidence collected during a federal search need not be suppressed by a state court even if that search would not have been justified under Iowa law.

State Supreme Court justices heard arguments at high school event

The Times-Republican noted that Young's case was unusual as it played out last month at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center in an event hosted by Marshalltown High School.

Although the Iowa Supreme Court typically conducts its business in Des Moines, justices will sometimes hold proceedings at other locations throughout the state.

Local attorney Pete Grady was in attendance at Young's hearing, and he spoke positively of how both Nye and Sloven had performed.

"Both were well prepared," Grady was quoted as saying of the lawyers. "This case is not quick and dirty – that is – can be easily resolved. Both offered compelling legal arguments."