(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Supreme Court has ordered re-sentencing for a Dallas County man who was required to buy a house to avoid jail time. Christopher Hidlebaugh agreed to a plea deal for failing to comply with the sex offender registry rules that would give him a suspended sentence if he bought a house. He had 70 days before the sentencing, but couldn’t buy a house, and was sentenced to prison.

Hidlebaugh appealed, saying his efforts to buy the house should be considered in the sentencing. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed, saying fairness demands that the court conduct an inquiry to determine whether Hidlebaugh willfully failed to satisfy the obligation to buy a house before it sentences him to prison.