Opinion ID: 1218865
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the District Court Relied on Improper Evidence in Sentencing Appellant.

Text: At the sentencing hearing, Debbie and Lynne chose not to testify. The district court, however, ruled that it could consider a letter submitted by Lynne's ex-husband describing the impact of the crime on Lynne and Lynne's son and a letter sent by Debbie's parents describing the impact of the crime on Debbie. Castillo argues that the district court's consideration of these victim impact statements was clear error. Though a judge is allowed wide discretion in sentencing, if the judge relies upon prejudicial matters, such reliance constitutes an abuse of discretion that necessitates a resentencing hearing before a different judge. Goodson v. State, 98 Nev. 493, 495-96, 654 P.2d 1006, 1007 (1982). NRS 176.015(3)(b) provides a victim the opportunity to appear personally or by counsel and reasonably express any views concerning the crime, the person responsible, and the impact of the crime on the victim. NRS 176.015(5) states that the term victim has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 213.005. [5] Castillo argues that Ron, Lynne's ex-husband, does not fit any part of the definition of victim and that his statement should not have been considered. The plea bargain agreement stated, however, that the court could consider the facts surrounding all of the original charges at the time of sentencing. The district court, reasoning that Lynne's son was a victim of the burglary with which Castillo was originally charged, concluded that Ron could speak on his son's behalf. Though Ron does not fit into any description within the meaning of victim that would enable him to give a statement for Lynne, it is not clear, since the focus of the discussion was on the statements regarding Lynne's son, that the district court even considered Ron's statements regarding Lynne. Even if it did, we conclude that such consideration was harmless error. Additionally, we conclude that though Debbie's parents do not fit within the express wording of NRS 213.005, their letter was directly related to the impact that the crime had on Debbie. Therefore, the district court's consideration of this letter was harmless error.