Opinion ID: 1928561
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the Trial Court Abuse its Discretion in Sentencing Adams to Prison?

Text: We review the district court's sentencing decision for an abuse of discretion. State v. Cason, 532 N.W.2d 755, 756 (Iowa 1995). To show an abuse of discretion, the defendant must demonstrate the court's sentencing decision was based on clearly untenable grounds or reasons, or the court exercised its discretion to an extent clearly unreasonable. Id. The district court sentenced Adams to concurrent terms of imprisonment. The court also ordered Adams was not required to serve the mandatory one-third minimum sentence imposed by Iowa Code section 124.413. See Iowa Code § 901.10 (allowing sentence less than that provided by statute for first-time offenders under section 124.413 if mitigating circumstances exist). Adams argues the court abused its discretion in not giving him a nonimprisonment sentence. He points out he was only twenty-one years old, had no prior convictions, and the amount of drugs he possessed was relatively small. Adams argues the only reason given by the trial court in imposing prison sentences was the seriousness of the offense which is an insufficient ground in view of the factors supporting probation. Adams' characterization of the court's sentencing rationale is factually inaccurate. The court relied on the seriousness of the offense but also said imprisonment would protect the public from further criminal activity and would be the best way to rehabilitate the defendant. These reasons are neither untenable nor unreasonable. Moreover, the district court did not exercise its discretion to an extent clearly unreasonable. Although the court sentenced Adams to prison, it waived the mandatory minimum sentence, noting Adams could reduce his term of incarceration with statutory good conduct time, work credits and program credits. It was within the court's reasonable sentencing discretion to decide the defendant and the public would benefit most from a term of imprisonment. We will not disturb the sentence merely because Adams was a young, first-time offender.