Court Opinion

ID: 2641969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-11-12 22:34:00.23369+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:48.875912
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                       Docket No. 40541

STATE OF IDAHO,                                  )    2013 Unpublished Opinion No. 751
                                                 )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                     )    Filed: November 12, 2013
                                                 )
v.                                               )    Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
                                                 )
BRIAN E. LEE,                                    )    THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
                                                 )    OPINION AND SHALL NOT
       Defendant-Appellant.                      )    BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
                                                 )

       Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho,
       Elmore County. Hon. Lynn G. Norton, District Judge.

       Order relinquishing jurisdiction, affirmed.

       Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Sally J. Cooley, Deputy
       Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

       Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Lori A. Fleming, Deputy Attorney
       General, Boise, for respondent.
                 ________________________________________________

                         Before LANSING, Judge; GRATTON, Judge;
                                  and MELANSON, Judge

PER CURIAM
       In this case we are asked to determine whether the district court abused its discretion in
refusing to grant probation following a period of retained jurisdiction and whether the district
court should have sua sponte further reduced the sentences. We affirm.
       Brian E. Lee pled guilty to two counts of issuing a check with insufficient funds. I.C. §
18-6106(b). The district court sentenced Lee to a unified term of three years, with a minimum
period of confinement of one year, for the first count of issuing a check with insufficient funds
and a consecutive indeterminate term of three years for the second count of issuing a check with

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insufficient funds. 1 The district court retained jurisdiction, and Lee was sent to participate in the
rider program. Prior to Lee’s completion of the rider program, the district court relinquished
jurisdiction and reduced one of Lee’s sentences to an indeterminate term of three years, with a
minimum period of confinement of six months.              Lee’s second sentence of a consecutive
indeterminate term of three years remained unchanged. Lee appeals, claiming that the district
court erred by refusing to grant probation, that his sentences are excessive, and the district court
should have further sua sponte reduced his sentences.
        We note that the decision to place a defendant on probation or whether, instead, to
relinquish jurisdiction over the defendant is a matter within the sound discretion of the district
court and will not be overturned on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. Hood, 102
Idaho 711, 712, 639 P.2d 9, 10 (1981); State v. Lee, 117 Idaho 203, 205-06, 786 P.2d 594, 596-
97 (Ct. App. 1990).
        The record in this case shows that the district court properly considered the information
before it and determined that probation was not appropriate. We hold that Lee has failed to show
that the district court abused its discretion with regard to its order relinquishing jurisdiction.
        Lee also contends that his modified sentences are excessive and constitute an abuse of
discretion. Sentences are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Our appellate standard of review
and the factors to be considered when evaluating the reasonableness of a sentence are well-
established. State v. Burdett, 134 Idaho 271, 1 P.3d 299 (Ct. App. 2000); State v. Sanchez, 115
Idaho 776, 769 P.2d 1148 (Ct. App. 1989); State v. Reinke, 103 Idaho 771, 653 P.2d 1183 (Ct.
App. 1982); State v. Toohill, 103 Idaho 565, 650 P.2d 707 (Ct. App. 1982). When reviewing the
length of a sentence, we consider the defendant’s entire sentence. State v. Oliver, 144 Idaho 722,
726, 170 P.3d 387, 391 (2007).
        Lee argues that all of the relevant goals of sentencing could have been accomplished with
probation.   As noted above, however, the district court found that probation was not an
appropriate course of action in Lee’s case. The record does not indicate that the district court
abused its discretion in this case.
        The order of the district court relinquishing jurisdiction and Lee’s sentence are affirmed.

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        Lee also pled guilty to misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers. He was sentenced
to a concurrent term of ninety days in jail. This sentence is not challenged on appeal.

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