Opinion ID: 1209868
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: at sentencing, the district court properly exercised its discretion in weighing wersland's character and history against the nature of the offense.

Text: Wersland argues that under Broadhead, supra, the imposition of the three year determinate sentence was unreasonable and that the district court's decision was therefore an abuse of discretion because the court found that society would not have to be protected from Wersland because the commission of another crime was not likely to take place. We disagree and hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Wersland to a three year determinate sentence. In order to show that the district court abused its discretion by imposing the sentence that it did, Wersland must show that the sentence was unreasonable upon the facts of the case. Broadhead, 120 Idaho at 145, 814 P.2d at 405. The reasonableness of a sentence is determined by looking to the probable length of confinement. Id. In reviewing a sentence imposed under the Unified Sentencing Act, an appellate court is to treat the fixed portion of the sentence as the term of confinement. Id. at 146, 814 P.2d at 406, quoting State v. Kysar, 116 Idaho 992, 999, 783 P.2d 859, 866 (1989). The district court in the present case imposed a fixed sentence of three years, which under Broadhead, supra, is the term of confinement for purposes of our review. The record shows that the district court properly focused upon the nature of the offense and Wersland's character in sentencing her, and considered the four sentencing factors. Although the court stated that society did not need to be protected from Wersland because her risk of reoffense was small, nevertheless, the other sentencing factors, particularly deterrence and retribution, as the district judge noted, supported the sentence of a term of incarceration. Not all of the sentencing factors, even the most important factor of protection of society, need be advanced by a sentence if the sentence is appropriate in light of one or more than one such criterion. Accordingly, we find the sentence reasonable and conclude that the district judge did not abuse his discretion.