Case Title: MOEHR v. STATE

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: wyoming

Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Date: 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z

Document:
MOEHR v. STATE2000 WY 20313 P.3d 1114Case Number: 00-35Decided: 11/30/2000Supreme Court of Wyoming
 
LONNIE C. MOEHR, 
Appellant (Defendant), v.THE STATE OF WYOMING, Appellee 
(Plaintiff).

Appeal from the District 
Court of Platte County The Honorable Barton R. Voigt, 
Judge

Representing 
Appellant:Sylvia Lee Hackl, 
State Public Defender; Donna D. Domonkos, Appellate Counsel; and Marion Yoder, 
Senior Assistant Public Defender. Argument by Ms. Yoder.Representing 
Appellee:Gay Woodhouse, Wyoming Attorney General; Paul S. Rehurek, 
Deputy Attorney General; and D. Michael Pauling, Senior Assistant Attorney 
General. Argument by Mr. Pauling.

Before 
LEHMAN, C.J., and THOMAS, GOLDEN, HILL, and KITE, JJ.

HILL, 
Justice.

[¶1] Appellant, 
Lonnie C. Moehr (Moehr), challenges the district court's order revoking his 
probation. Moehr asserts that the requirements of his probation were neither 
reasonable nor enforceable under the circumstances of this case. Moehr also 
claims that the Department of Corrections (DOC) did not adhere to required 
procedures in assigning him to intensive supervision. We find no error in the 
district court's decision to revoke Moehr's probation, and so we 
affirm.

ISSUES

[¶2] Moehr 
posits these issues:

I. Were probation 
requirements reasonable and enforceable under these 
circumstances?

II. Were all procedural 
requirements met by the Department of Corrections in placing appellant on the 
intensive supervision program and then seeking judicial revocation of 
it?

[¶3] The State 
summarizes those issues thus: "Did the district court properly revoke 
appellant's probation?"

FACTS

[¶4] On June 10, 
1998, upon a plea of nolo contendere, Moehr was found guilty of a violation of 
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-3-105(a) (Michie 1997), immoral or indecent acts with a 
minor. Moehr was sentenced to serve not less than one year nor more than three 
years in a State correctional facility. That sentence was suspended, and Moehr 
was placed on supervised probation for a period of two years. The conditions of 
his probation were these:

1. The Defendant shall 
lead a law-abiding life, and shall not violate any federal, state or local law, 
nor the term of any valid court order;

2. The Defendant shall 
abide by all rules, regulations and requirements imposed upon him by the 
Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole.

3. The Defendant shall 
attend counseling as deemed appropriate by his counselor and/or probation 
agent.

[¶5] On November 
20, 1998, the State filed a petition to revoke Moehr's probation. The basis for 
that petition was Moehr's refusal to submit to intensive supervision as directed 
by his probation officer. The district court issued an order to show cause why 
Moehr's probation should not be revoked, but that order was quashed when Moehr 
agreed to comply with the terms of his probation.1 The principal "condition" of 
Moehr's probation that became the sticking point in these proceedings was that 
his level of supervision was to be "intensive." The intensive supervision 
program is provided for by statute. The statute gives DOC the authority to 
establish the program and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to govern 
it. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1102 (LEXIS 1999). The statute makes plain that 
participation in the program is a matter of grace and not of right. Wyo. Stat. 
Ann. § 7-13-1103 (LEXIS 1999). Placement in the program is also governed by 
statute. A district court may, as a condition of probation, order that a 
defendant who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been 
convicted of, a felony participate in the intensive supervision program. Wyo. 
Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1105 (LEXIS 1999). In addition, DOC may place an individual in 
the program as an alternative to revocation of probation. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 
7-13-1106 (LEXIS 1999). The latter method is how Moehr came to be in the 
intensive supervision program. Moehr entered into an agreement to participate in 
that program. One of the requirements of acceptance into the intensive 
supervision program is that the probationer agrees to participate in the 
program. § 7-13-1106(a)(iii).

[¶6] Moehr 
plainly did not like intensive supervision. As a result, the State filed a 
request for the district court to review and clarify the terms of Moehr's 
probation. At the hearing which followed, the district court heard considerable 
testimony, and that testimony can be summed up as follows: Moehr was often 
hostile and threatening to DOC personnel, as well as local law enforcement 
officers, and he simply was not doing the things that were expected of him. The 
district court made it abundantly clear that Moehr's status as a probationer was 
a matter of grace and that the alternative to his fulfilling the terms of his 
probation was incarceration. At the conclusion of that hearing, Moehr appeared 
to have understood, and he appeared apologetic:

"That is pretty clear, 
thank you. You know, I would like to say that I did, you know - I think the last 
meeting we had or so - explain to Penny that I realized that some of my 
anxieties and frustrations aren't her fault and aren't directed at her, 
personally. I do think that, you know, I can get some good out of 
ISP."

[¶7] The result 
of that hearing was that Moehr's probation was continued because he had 
indicated that he did intend to cooperate.

[¶8] On October 
21, 1999, a second petition to revoke Moehr's probation was filed. The basis for 
the petition was that Moehr had refused to participate in a sex offender group, 
as deemed appropriate by his counselor and probation agent, and that he had not 
maintained full-time employment. Moehr claimed he was disabled and could not 
work but would not sign a release so that DOC could verify the nature of his 
disability. A hearing was held on December 3, 1999, and on December 9, 1999, the 
district court issued its order revoking Moehr's probation. The evidence adduced 
at that hearing established that Moehr had refused to participate in the sex 
offender program (largely because he would be required to submit to polygraph 
testing and admit his guilt), and that he had refused to provide medical 
releases to validate his claim that he could not work because of his 
disability.

DISCUSSION

[¶9] Moehr 
contends that: Because he suffered from bipolar disorder and other emotional 
problems, because of the "attitude" adopted by some probation personnel, and 
because probation personnel have too great a level of discretion in setting 
probation conditions, he was doomed to failure from the outset. The record 
demonstrates quite the opposite. The terms of Moehr's probation were clear and, 
in significant part, the exact provisos of probation are those selected by the 
employees of DOC who supervise probationers. See Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-407 
(LEXIS 1999). The agreement Moehr reached with his probation officer is, indeed, 
grave. We attach it to this opinion as Appendix "A" so that the terms we approve 
of by this opinion are clear. It is congruent in all respects with the purpose 
of Wyoming's penal law - reformation and prevention. See Wyo. Const. art. 1, § 
15.

[¶10] Much to do 
is made of Moehr's inability to manage his anger and to succumb to impulse, 
especially if under the influence of intoxicants. The crime for which he was 
placed on probation was just such an act. He was accorded the status of 
probation as a matter of grace - the usual punishment is incarceration. The very 
purpose of the probationary sentence imposed on Moehr was to reform his 
penchants for acting out aggressively (to the point of illegality) and 
impulsively (sticking his hand down a young girl's pants so that his fingers 
came in contact with her vaginal area).

[¶11] A district 
court's decision to revoke probation is discretionary and will not be disturbed 
unless the record demonstrates a clear abuse of discretion; the district court 
is required to make a conscientious judgment that the alleged violation occurred 
after considering the reasons underlying the conditions of probation, the 
violation of those conditions, and the reasons leading to the violation. Johnson 
v. State, 6 P.3d 1261, 1263 (Wyo. 2000) (citing Roberts v. State, 912 P.2d 1110, 
1112 (Wyo. 1996); and Leyba v. State, 882 P.2d 863, 865-66 (Wyo. 1994)). This 
case is very much like both Johnson and Leyba, except that, here, at the behest 
of the State, Moehr was brought before the district court so that his 
obligations vis-a-vis his probation could be further explained to him. That 
record is abundant in providing Moehr with the information he needed, and he 
acknowledged that he understood the instruction provided by the district court. 
The record of the proceedings at his revocation hearing likewise demonstrates 
that Moehr refused to conform to the terms of his probation and his decisions 
were made unilaterally. Under these circumstances, the district court did not 
abuse its discretion in revoking Moehr's probation.

[¶12] Moehr also 
contends the district court abused its discretion by delegating the delineation 
of the terms of Moehr's probation to DOC. That is exactly what is contemplated 
by the governing statutes which we have set out above. We find no abuse of 
discretion in this regard.

[¶13] The order 
of the district court revoking Moehr's probation is 
affirmed.

APPENDIX 
"A"

OSP-2 INTENSIVE 
SUPERVISION PROGRAM AGREEMENT

[¶14] Name: 
Moehr, Lonnie No. 55760

[¶15] Address: 
1002 14th St. Wheatland Wyo. Date: December 16, 1998 
322-5581

[¶16] In 
consideration of having been granted probation/parole by Eighth Judicial Dist. 
Court. I hereby agree to abide by the following rules and regulations of the 
Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), in addition to complying with any other 
court ordered or parole conditions.

1. I will obey all 
Municipal, State and Federal Laws and will report all arrests to my ISP 
Agent(s).

2. I will comply with all 
instructions in matters affecting my supervision, and cooperate by promptly and 
truthfully answering inquiries directed to me by an ISP 
Agent(s).

3. I will not own, 
purchase, possess, transport, or use weapons or explosives prohibited by my ISP 
Agent(s), or forbidden by law.

4. I will not own, 
possess or purchase any animal deemed vicious by ISP 
Agent(s).

5. I will not leave this 
county without written permission of my Probation/Parole Agent(s) and agree to 
comply with residence restrictions, weekly schedules, and curfews as 
directed.

6. I will submit to any 
and all evaluations deemed necessary by ISP Agent(s), at my own expense, and 
adhere to any and all recommendations resulting from those 
evaluations.

7. I will actively 
participate in any treatment/counseling and/or training programs recommended by 
ISP Agent(s), at my own expense.

8. I will remain employed 
full-time (35-40 hours per week) throughout my participation on ISP and will 
notify ISP Agent(s) regarding any change(s) in my employment status (i.e. wages, 
hours, promotions, demotions, firings).

9. I will pay monthly 
supervision fees of $25 to participate in ISP (subject to reduction(s) and 
reinstatement(s) of the original $25).

10. I will not quit my 
job without prior approval of my ISP Agent(s), and should I lose my job I will 
obtain employment within a reasonable amount of time.

11. I will remain alcohol 
and drug free and, unless given permission to do so by my ISP Agent(s), will not 
enter any place where alcohol is sold.

12. I will submit to 
reasonable search and seizure at any time, with or without a search warrant of 
my person (including the extraction of blood, breath, or urine for alcohol/drug 
screening), property, place of residence, vehicle and personal 
effects.

13. I will travel only by 
an approved method, proceeding directly to my destination and returning promptly 
to my residence without unauthorized stops or detours.

14. I will not change my 
residence without prior approval and will keep my ISP Agent(s) informed of my 
whereabouts and activities at all times.

15. I will not have in my 
residence at any time a person who has not been approved by my ISP 
Agent(s).

16. I will not enter into 
any contract, make any purchases of $50 or more, incur any debt, open/hold a 
checking account, or have a credit/ATM card, without the prior approval of my 
ISP Agent(s).

17. I know that 
intermediate sanctions for program violations may be implemented as part of 
intensive supervision, and that such may include but are not limited to 
community service, electronic monitoring, and county jail time. I will submit to 
such intermediate sanctions as may be administratively imposed on 
me.

18. I understand if I am 
placed on electronic monitoring, I will be required to maintain in my home an 
operable telephone compatible with the monitoring equipment and electrical 
service. I understand a transmitter will be attached to my body and a monitor 
will be attached to my telephone line. I will report any equipment problems to 
my ISP Agent(s) immediately and I will be held financially responsible for any 
damage to the equipment, other than normal wear. I will not tamper with, attempt 
to fix nor allow anyone else to tamper with or attempt to fix the equipment; nor 
will I take any action which will interfere with the operation of the equipment. 
All equipment will be returned to the Department of Corrections upon 
request.

19. In the event of an 
emergency I will make a reasonable effort to obtain permission from an ISP Agent 
to leave my residence. I understand, if that is not possible, I must contact an 
ISP Agent when the situation is under control and then provide the ISP Agent(s) 
with documentation verifying the emergency.

20. Special Condition(s): 
Condition #12 also applies to law enforcement personnel, if instructed by 
probation/parole agent (agents).

[¶17] I further 
waive all rights and process pertaining to extradition, and consent to return to 
the State of Wyoming from any and all jurisdictions, in or outside the United 
States, wherever I may be found. I have read or have had read to me this entire 
document and I understand the conditions, and voluntarily agree to abide by the 
rules and regulations of the Wyoming Department of Corrections Intensive 
Supervision Program.

[¶18] /s/Lonnie 
C. Moehr 12/16/98 Intensive Supervision Program Participant 
Date

[¶19] /s/Penny 
Martinez December 16, 1998 Intensive Supervision Program Agent 
Date

Footnotes

1 Before the 
exact terms of Moehr's probation were established, he entered a plea of nolo 
contendere to the crime of misdemeanor interference with a peace officer. In 
lieu of revocation of probation, Moehr agreed to the placement in intensive 
supervised probation.