The Iowa Court of Appeals has rejected the appeal of a Black Hawk County man’s life sentence for kidnapping. Keith Bruns of Cedar Falls was sentenced to life in prison without parole after he was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping back in 1979.

Bruns argued since he was only 20 at the time of the kidnapping, a life sentence is cruel and unusual punishment. The appeal is based on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that some life sentences are unconstitutional when they are given to people who are juveniles when they commit their crimes.

The Iowa Court of Appeals was not convinced by Bruns argument and upheld the district court decision that his life sentence should stand.

See the complete ruling here: Bruns ruling PDF