Opinion ID: 2273318
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reese's final sentence

Text: [¶ 32] The court did not order any portion of the sentence suspended because it found that Reese had not been able to avail himself of opportunities for rehabilitation in the past. The court noted essentially that when it imposes a long sentence there may be a gap of decades between the historical events on which the sentence is based and some distant future date when probation, if any is imposed as part of a sentence, would actually begin. Such is the nature of our sentencing statute which requires that all parts of the sentence be determined at the same time. See 17-A M.R.S. § 1252-C. Given this statutory sentencing framework, the court appropriately considered Reese's prior criminal history, along with the other facts presented at sentencing, to evaluate, in light of the sentencing factors set forth in 17-A M.R.S. § 1151, whether any portion of the sentence should be suspended. [¶ 33] Based on Reese's prior criminal history, the court found that attempts at deterrence had been ineffective. These findings were amply supported in the record at sentencing. Reese has a criminal record that extends back to 1999. His past convictions include theft, felony forgery of a financial instrument, robbery, and a variety of other misdemeanor offenses, one of which was for unlawful carrying of a weapon. The robbery, which took place in 2001, involved shooting a BB gun toward the victim of the robbery, although the pellet did not strike the victim. Reese committed the robbery during a period when his sentence on the felony forgery had been deferred to give him an opportunity to demonstrate that he had earned a reduced sentence for that crime. While Reese was in custody during the investigation of the robbery, he was caught trying to destroy a police videotape showing him in a lineup. Regarding the crime of elevated aggravated assault at issue here, Reese did not accept responsibility for the crime and expressed no genuine remorse. [¶ 34] Reese argues that the court failed to discuss several factors that relate to his ability to be rehabilitated, including his upbringing, education, school achievement, job training and skills, and job experience. The court is not required to discuss every argument or factor that the defendant raises, as long as it does not disregard significant and relevant sentencing factors. See Downs, 2009 ME 3, ¶¶ 25-27, 962 A.2d at 956-57. The court did not disregard sentencing factors or abuse its discretion in setting the final sentence at twenty-nine years. See id. ; 15 M.R.S. § 2154.