Opinion ID: 1366919
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Was the trial court's sentence excessive?

Text: This Court's task when reviewing the reasonableness of the sentence imposed below is to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion. State v. Charboneau, 124 Idaho 497, 499, 861 P.2d 67, 69 (1993) (quoting State v. Broadhead, 120 Idaho 141, 143, 814 P.2d 401, 403 (1991)). The record clearly shows that the trial court properly applied I.C. § 19-2520, the criteria for placing the defendant on probation or imposing imprisonment, and the four objectives of criminal punishment stated by this Court in State v. Wolfe, 99 Idaho 382, 582 P.2d 728 (1978). [2] The question presented in this case is whether the trial court exercised its discretion consistently with the legal standards for considering mental capacity at sentencing set out by I.C. § 19-2523(1). Idaho Code § 19-2523, which requires that the trial court consider the defendant's mental illness as a sentencing factor, was an integral part of the legislature's repeal of mental condition as a defense. See S.L.1982, ch. 368 § 2 (abolishing mental condition as a defense); S.L.1982, ch. 368 § 10 (requiring consideration of mental condition at sentencing). That statute requires that, if the defendant's mental condition is a significant issue, the sentencing judge must consider such factors as: (a) The extent to which the defendant is mentally ill; (b) The degree of illness or defect and level of functional impairment; (c) The prognosis for improvement or rehabilitation; (d) The availability of treatment and level of care required; (e) Any risk of danger which the defendant may create for the public, if at large, or the absence of such risk; (f) The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law at the time of the offense charged.