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DES MOINES — The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case to determine whether state courts can bill low-income Iowans for the cost of their court-appointed defense attorney when criminal charges against the person have been dismissed.

The challenge is centered on a case in which an Iowa man, Ronald Pagliai, faced four separate criminal charges: three for shoplifting from Kohl's, Hy-Vee and Price Chopper, and another for resisting arrest. The cases were combined in 2024 and Pagliai pleaded guilty to the Hy-Vee and Kohl's charges. A district court eventually dismissed the resisting arrest and Price Chopper charges.

Pagliai was sentenced to serve 41 days and was ordered by th

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