Title: Idaho v. Adams

State: idaho

Issuer: Idaho Supreme Court (criminal)

Document:

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO 
Docket No. 49573 
 
STATE OF IDAHO, 
 
      Plaintiff-Respondent, 
 
v. 
 
JESSIE DON ADAMS, 
 
     Defendant-Appellant. 
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Boise, September 2022 Term 
 
Opinion Filed: December 9, 2022 
 
Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk 
 
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Ada 
County. Michael Reardon, District Judge. 
 
The judgment of the district court is vacated and the case is remanded. 
 
Eric D. Fredericksen, State Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant Jessie 
Don Adams. Jason C. Pintler argued.  
 
Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, for respondent State of 
Idaho. Kale D. Gans argued.  
 
_____________________ 
 
STEGNER, Justice. 
Jessie Adams appeals an order to pay $15,053.49 in restitution stemming from his 
conviction of petit theft. The State charged Adams with two separate counts of grand theft. 
Following a jury trial, Adams was found guilty of the first charge of grand theft. As to the second 
charge, the jury acquitted Adams of grand theft but found him guilty of the lesser-included offense 
of petit theft. The district court ordered Adams to pay $15,053.49 in restitution related to his 
conviction for petit theft. 
Adams appealed the order to pay restitution on the petit theft conviction, arguing that the 
district court had abused its discretion in ordering restitution in an amount greater than $999.99, 
“the amount associated with the statutory delineation between grand theft and petit theft.” State v. 
Adams, No. 48023, 2021 WL 5895484, at *1 (Ct. App. Dec. 14, 2021) (unpublished opinion). The 
appeal was assigned to the Court of Appeals. See id. Relying on its prior decision in State v. 
Richmond, 137 Idaho 35, 43 P.3d 794 (Ct. App. 2002), the Court of Appeals affirmed the 
restitution order, holding that Idaho Code section 19-5304 “gives trial courts the discretion to order 
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restitution for the victim’s economic loss caused by a defendant’s criminal conduct, even if the 
actual loss is greater than one of the statutory elements of the crime itself.” Adams, 2021 WL 
5895484, at *3. Adams petitioned the Idaho Supreme Court for review, which was granted. For 
the reasons discussed below, we vacate the order of restitution and remand to the district court for 
further proceedings. 
I. 
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
In 2007, Andrew Lyons opened a painting and refinishing business named Idaho Interior 
Services. Jessie Adams was an employee of Idaho Interior Services from mid-2013 to December 
2014, at which point Lyons sold him a ten-percent stake in the business for $4,000 and he became 
a co-owner. Lyons moved to Florida in March 2015, leaving Adams to run the day-to-day 
operations of the company in Idaho. The plan was for Adams to eventually buy Lyons’ interest in 
the business. However, in the fall of 2016, Idaho Interior Services shut down due to financial 
issues.  
In reviewing Idaho Interior Services’ financial records, Lyons became suspicious that 
Adams had been misusing company funds. Specifically, Lyons discovered multiple instances in 
which there had been checks made out payable to the company but that money never made it into 
the company bank account. Additionally, there were charges to the company debit card that Lyons 
felt were not legitimate business expenses, such as a charge at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, 
Idaho.1 
Lyons reported his suspicions to law enforcement, and, on November 21, 2018, the State 
filed a criminal information against Adams, charging him with two counts of grand theft in 
violation of Idaho Code sections 18-2403(1), 18-2407(1)(b), and 18-2409. In Count I, the State 
alleged that Adams had cashed company checks for his own use. In Count II, the State alleged that 
Adams had misused the company debit card, using company funds for his own personal use. 
Adams pleaded not guilty to both counts, and the matter proceeded to a jury trial.   
After the close of evidence at trial, the district court instructed the jury that, in the event it 
acquitted Adams of either grand theft charge, it must then determine whether Adams was guilty of 
the lesser-included offense of petit theft. The jury was further instructed that the only difference 
between grand theft and petit theft was whether “the credit, merchandise, or services exceeded one 
                                                 
1 Athol is located approximately 400 miles north of Boise, where Idaho Interior Services was located. It takes 
approximately seven and a half hours to drive from Boise to Athol. 
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thousand dollars ($1,000) in value.” The jury found Adams guilty of grand theft as to Count I. As 
to Count II, the jury acquitted Adams of grand theft; however, it found him guilty of petit theft, 
the lesser-included offense.  
At sentencing, the State requested a total of $39,689.32 in restitution for both counts, 
$15,053.49 of which was specifically for the unauthorized debit card charges made by Adams as 
charged in Count II. The remaining amount of restitution ordered related to the grand theft 
conviction in Count I, which is not at issue in this case. Adams objected, arguing that because the 
jury had acquitted him of grand theft regarding the debit card charges, the district court could only 
order restitution for debit card charges up to $999.99. The district court disagreed with Adams’s 
argument, reasoning that “the [c]ourt in its discretion may determine the amount of restitution to 
be awarded based on a preponderance of the evidence. That amount is not limited by the monetary 
limits of the crime charge, [sic] but shall be limited up to the amount of economic loss suffered by 
the victim.” Finding that the State had proven the amount of economic loss by a preponderance of 
the evidence, the district court ordered Adams to pay $15,053.49 for the debit card charges.  
Adams appealed. The Idaho Court of Appeals, which had been assigned the case, affirmed 
the restitution order. State v. Adams, No. 48023, 2021 WL 5895484 (Ct. App. Dec. 14, 2021) 
(unpublished opinion). Adams then petitioned this Court for review, which we granted.  
II. 
STANDARD OF REVIEW 
 “When reviewing a case on petition for review from the Court of Appeals this Court gives 
due consideration to the decision reached by the Court of Appeals, but directly reviews the decision 
of the trial court.” State v. Gonzales, 165 Idaho 667, 671, 450 P.3d 315, 319 (2019) (quoting State 
v. Schmierer, 159 Idaho 768, 770, 367 P.3d 163, 165 (2016)). 
This Court reviews a district court’s restitution order for an abuse of 
discretion, asking whether the trial court “(1) correctly perceived the issue as one 
of discretion; (2) acted within the outer boundaries of its discretion; (3) acted 
consistently with the legal standards applicable to the specific choices available to 
it; and (4) reached its decision by the exercise of reason.” State v. Garcia, 166 Idaho 
661, 681, 462 P.3d 1125, 1145 (2020) (quoting Lunneborg v. My Fun Life, 163 
Idaho 856, 863, 421 P.3d 187, 194 (2018)). 
State v. Foeller, 168 Idaho 884, 887, 489 P.3d 795, 798 (2021). 
“This Court exercises free review over statutory interpretation because it presents a 
question of law.” State v. Amstad, 164 Idaho 403, 405, 431 P.3d 238, 240 (2018). 
III. 
ANALYSIS 
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A. The district court abused its discretion by ordering restitution in excess of 
$1,000.00. 
On appeal, Adams argues that the district court abused its discretion by acting outside the 
legal boundaries of its discretion. Specifically, he asserts that the plain language of “Idaho Code 
[section] 19-5304 only authorizes a court to order restitution for a crime for which a defendant was 
found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, absent a defendant’s agreement to pay more.” Because 
the jury acquitted him of grand theft regarding the debit card charges, Adams argues that “the jury 
clearly found that Mr. Adams did not steal more than $1,000.00, which is the distinction between 
grand theft and petit theft[.]” Adams further asserts that the Court of Appeals’ decision in State v. 
Richmond, 137 Idaho 35, 43 P.3d 794 (Ct. App. 2002), which the district court relied upon in 
ordering restitution, was wrongly decided. 
The State responds that the $15,053.49 in debit card charges were “causally connected to 
Adams’ criminal conduct, as charged by the [S]tate, and was therefore compensable.” The State 
points out that, pursuant to Idaho Code section 19-5304, economic loss for the purpose of 
restitution must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence rather than beyond a reasonable 
doubt. The State further argues that its reading of the restitution statute, as well as Richmond, better 
comports with the policy behind the statute: that victims of crimes be made financially whole.  
We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in ordering restitution for the debit 
card charges in excess of $1,000.00.2 A “district court abuse[s] its discretion by failing to recognize 
the outer boundaries of its discretion in failing to identify the proper standard.” State v. Garcia, 
166 Idaho 661, 682, 462 P.3d 1125, 1146 (2020). When this Court interprets statutes, the primary 
goal 
is to derive the intent of the legislative body that adopted the act. Statutory 
interpretation begins with the literal language of the statute. Provisions should not 
be read in isolation, but must be interpreted in the context of the entire document. 
The statute should be considered as a whole, and words should be given their plain, 
usual, and ordinary meanings. It should be noted that the Court must give effect to 
all the words and provisions of the statute so that none will be void, superfluous, or 
redundant. When the statutory language is unambiguous, the clearly expressed 
intent of the legislative body must be given effect, and the Court need not consider 
rules of statutory construction. 
                                                 
2 We note that Adams argues on appeal that the district court could not have awarded restitution in excess of $999.99. 
However, pursuant to Idaho Code section 18-2407, a person may only be convicted of grand theft if “[t]he value of 
the property taken exceeds one thousand dollars[.]” (Italics added.) Therefore, the district court could have awarded 
restitution for petit theft up to and including $1,000.00. 
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State v. Bodenbach, 165 Idaho 577, 585, 448 P.3d 1005, 1013 (2019) (quoting Amstad, 164 Idaho 
at 405, 431 P.3d at 240).  
Idaho’s restitution statute, Idaho Code section 19-5304, provides that “[u]nless the court 
determines that an order of restitution would be inappropriate or undesirable, it shall order a 
defendant found guilty of any crime which results in an economic loss to the victim to make 
restitution to the victim.” I.C. § 19-5304(2). “ ‘Found guilty of any crime’ shall mean a finding by 
a court that a defendant has committed a criminal act and shall include an entry of a plea of guilty, 
an order withholding judgment, suspending sentence, or entry of judgment of conviction for a 
misdemeanor or felony.” I.C. § 19-5304(1)(b). 
A trial court’s discretion to order restitution is broad: “Restitution shall be ordered for any 
economic loss which the victim actually suffers.” I.C. § 19-5304(2).  
“Economic loss” includes, but is not limited to, the value of property taken, 
destroyed, broken, or otherwise harmed, lost wages, and direct out-of-pocket losses 
or expenses, such as medical expenses resulting from the criminal conduct, but does 
not include less tangible damage such as pain and suffering, wrongful death or 
emotional distress. 
I.C. § 19-5304(1)(a). “Economic loss shall be based upon the preponderance of evidence submitted 
to the court by the prosecutor, defendant, victim or presentence investigator.” I.C. § 19-5304(6). 
“The court, in determining . . . the amount of such restitution, shall consider the amount of 
economic loss sustained by the victim as a result of the offense, the financial resources, needs and 
earning ability of the defendant, and such other factors as the court deems appropriate.” I.C. § 19-
5304(7). 
While we recognize the district court in this case had broad discretion, Idaho Code section 
19-5304 authorizes a court to order restitution only for economic losses that are a result of the 
crime. I.C. § 19-5304(2) (A court “shall order a defendant found guilty of any crime which results 
in an economic loss to the victim to make restitution to the victim.”) (Italics added.); I.C. § 19-
5304(7) (“The court . . . shall consider the amount of economic loss sustained by the victim as a 
result of the offense[.]”) (Italics added.); I.C. § 19-5304(1)(e)(i) (defining “victim” as one “who 
suffers economic loss or injury as a result of the defendant’s criminal conduct”) (italics added). 
This Court has additionally instructed that, “in order for restitution to be appropriate, there must 
be a causal connection between the conduct for which the defendant is convicted and the injuries 
suffered by the victim.” State v. Corbus, 150 Idaho 599, 602, 249 P.3d 398, 401 (2011). 
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Here, it is undisputed that the entire $15,053.49 restitution award stemmed directly from 
the debit card charges made by Adams. It does not include lost wages or other ancillary economic 
losses; rather, the entire amount consists of the direct economic loss Idaho Interior Services 
allegedly sustained as a result of Adams’ use of the debit card. However, the jury specifically 
rejected that allegation: In acquitting Adams of grand theft with respect to the debit card charges, 
the jury found that the State had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Adams had 
wrongfully charged more than $1,000.00 to Idaho Interior Services’ debit card. Therefore, the 
criminal debit card charges that occurred as a result of the petit theft offense could not have been 
greater than $1,000.00 and, thus, the district court erred in awarding restitution above that statutory 
amount. Because the district court awarded restitution for debit card charges that were not a result 
of the offense of petit theft, the district court acted outside the boundaries of its discretion and 
therefore abused its discretion. 
We emphasize the narrow nature of the holding we issue today. For example, our decision 
in no way affects a court’s ability to order a total amount of restitution above the direct economic 
loss related to the offense, nor does it affect a defendant’s ability to agree to pay additional 
restitution pursuant to Idaho Code section 19-5304(9). Here, however, the State did not seek 
restitution for lost wages or other ancillary costs incurred by the victim and the district court did 
not award restitution for any out-of-pocket expenses related to the petit theft. Rather, the district 
court awarded restitution in excess of $1,000.00 specifically for debit card charges that could not 
have been sustained as a result of Adams’ conviction for petit theft. As Adams explains in his 
petition for review: 
In essence, the district court vetoed the jury’s verdict and found, by a preponderance 
of the evidence, that Mr. Adams committed grand theft. But while the 
preponderance of the evidence standard applies to determining the amount of 
“economic loss sustained by the victim as a result of the offense,” it was the jury 
who determined what offense, or “criminal act” Mr. Adams committed. 
(Internal citations omitted.)  
In sum, because the district court ordered Adams to pay restitution in excess of $1,000.00 
for the debit card charges, we hold that the district court abused its discretion. On remand, we 
instruct the district court to enter an order for restitution for which the direct economic losses due 
to the petit theft does not exceed $1,000.00. Additionally, to the extent that the Court of Appeals’ 
decision in Richmond is contrary to our holding today, Richmond is abrogated. See 137 Idaho 35, 
43 P.3d 794 (Ct. App. 2002). 
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IV. 
CONCLUSION 
For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the judgment of the district court and remand for 
further proceedings consistent with this opinion. 
Chief Justice BEVAN, Justices BRODY, MOELLER and ZAHN CONCUR.