Opinion ID: 2188536
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: whether the trial court properly established the amount of restitution?

Text: Defendant's remaining two issues also relate to the trial court's sentence. Therefore, for the assistance of the trial court, those issues will be dealt with. (a) Abuse of discretion/cruel and unusual punishment. Defendant was convicted of eighty-four counts of criminal misconduct. She was sentenced to thirty days in the Pennington County jail on the convictions for two counts of use of false instrument to obtain public funds and two counts of theft (Class I misdemeanors), each to be served concurrently. For the convictions on twenty-eight counts of perjury, she was sentenced to concurrent four year terms in the state penitentiary. Defendant was ordered to serve concurrent ten year terms in the penitentiary on the convictions for twenty-six counts of use of false instrument to obtain public funds, (Class 4 felonies). For the attempted theft conviction (a Class 5 felony), she was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. And for the convictions for twenty-five counts of theft (Class 4 felonies), defendant was ordered to serve concurrent ten year terms in the penitentiary. [2] It was further ordered that six years of the ten year terms imposed would be suspended upon certain conditions, including restitution of moneys taken, costs of the audit, and certain costs of the prosecution. Defendant argues that these sentences are an abuse of discretion and constitute cruel and unusual punishment. There is a two-fold test to our review of a sentence to determine whether it is so constitutionally offensive as to shock the conscience. First, is the punishment so excessive or so cruel as to meet the disapproval and condemnation of the conscience and reason of men generally. And second, whether the punishment is so excessive or so cruel as to shock the collective conscience of this court. State v. Reed, 451 N.W.2d 409 (S.D.1990); State v. Phipps, 318 N.W.2d 128 (S.D.1982). Defendant was employed in a position of public trust. She used that position to commit these crimes. While she was a first offender, these offenses formed a pattern of criminal conduct over a period of almost two and one-half years from which she derived a substantial income. Her actions were intentional, as opposed to reckless or negligent. Under both tests, this sentence does not shock the conscience of men generally, nor of this court. On appeal this court is referred to three other cases involving theft which appear to be an attempt at arguing that this sentence is disproportionate. First, this issue must be raised at the trial level. State v. Groethe, 439 N.W.2d 554 (S.D.1989). Second, this showing provides an inadequate record to probe this contention. As in State v. Janssen, 371 N.W.2d 353, 357 (S.D.1985) (Henderson, Justice, concurring in result): There are no statistics, criteria, history of cases, studies, or court records from which this Court could make an intelligent appellate review as to ... proportionality under the Eighth Amendment. (b) Restitution. Defendant contests the amount of restitution ordered. This sentence was imposed prior to this court's decision in State v. Tuttle, 460 N.W.2d 157 (S.D.1990), where it was mandated that a due process hearing on restitution be held. The state argues that a review by court services satisfies the Tuttle requirements; the defendant had an opportunity to be heard at sentencing; and that restitution in this case is prospective in nature, and if made, it is done so on a voluntary basis, therefore, no hearing was necessary. First, a review by court services does not satisfy due process requirements. Court services' function is to assist the court, not act as an independent tribunal. While defendant did have an opportunity to be heard at the time of sentencing, and did indicate a willingness to pay the taxpayers back, nothing except court services' report was submitted on the issue of the amount of restitution. Defendant offered information, which if believed, would substantially reduce the amount of restitution. That matter should be formally reviewed. Defendant was sentenced to the penitentiary. Six of the ten years were to be suspended if the defendant agreed to make restitution. SDCL 23A-27-19 (suspended sentences) merely gives a sentencing judge the authority to have the conditions he places on a suspended sentence enforced by the Board of Charities[.] Turo v. Solem, 427 N.W.2d 843, 846 (S.D.1988). Therefore, it was not prospective in nature. It is for the Board of Pardons and Paroles to establish and enforce a restitution plan. SDCL 23A-28-3, State v. Wolff, 438 N.W.2d 199 (S.D.1989). However, prior to defendant's delivery to the penitentiary, the circuit court has the jurisdiction, if it so desires, to formulate a plan of restitution. Wolff, supra . In this instance, the circuit court chose to establish the amount of restitution. Therefore, a due process hearing was necessary. Neither the state nor defendant ordered the trial to be transcribed. Therefore, we are unable to determine if the amount of restitution was established at the trial to such a degree that a separate hearing would be unwarranted. If the restitution hearing is held in conjunction with the sentencing hearing, the defendant must know this sufficiently prior to the hearing to be able to contest the issues. The record is insufficient to allow that determination. Therefore, defendant has a right to a restitution hearing.