DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a western Iowa man convicted of attempted murder in the shooting of a former girlfriend. Craig Finney, of Macedonia, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and told the judge in his trial that he shot Patty Harker in June 2011, and said he took the plea because he’s guilty. Finney was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
 
He appealed saying the judge didn’t ask enough questions at his plea hearing to establish a factual basis that he committed the crime. The high court finds judges must inquire enough to provide a factual basis but in Finney’s case there is adequate evidence in the record to support the plea.
 
The decision reverses the Iowa Court of Appeals which had thrown out the conviction.