Court Opinion

ID: 9679864
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:11:25.744265+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:22.444743
License: Public Domain

Melvin Mayfield, Judge, dissenting. I cannot agree with the majority opinion in this case. The appellant entered a plea of guilty to the charge of theft of property having a value in excess of $200, and was sentenced to three years’ probation, and restitution in an amount to be determined pursuant to a hearing. There was no agreement as to the amount of restitution to be paid, and after a hearing the trial court ordered restitution in the amount of $19,500. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-301 (1987) provides: The General Assembly recognizes that many innocent persons suffer injury, death, property damage, and resultant financial hardship because of crimes committed in this state and that there is a genuine need in this state to establish a method whereby the responsible offender, as far as practicable, may be required to make restitution to his victim so as to make that victim whole with respect to the financial injury suffered. [Emphasis added.] And Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-303(a) (1987) (now repealed) provides: If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty of a criminal offense, the trial court of criminal jurisdiction shall, in addition to imposition of sentence, enter a monetary judgment against the defendant in an amount of restitution or reparation from the offender to the victim that will totally or partially compensate the victim for his personal injury or loss or damage to his property caused by the criminal act of the offender. [Emphasis added.] The appellant testified that he supports five people including three children between the ages of five and nine; that his wife does not have a job; and that he makes approximately $1,500 to $1,700 per month. Based on this evidence I do not believe it is practicable for appellant to pay $19,500 during the term of his probation. It is true, as the majority notes, that a trial court retains jurisdiction beyond the terms of a suspended sentence until any restitution is paid, and it is possible that the trial court might extend appellant’s restitution payments for longer than his probation. However, it is equally possible that the trial court might revoke appellant’s probation, and I am unwilling to speculate that the “term of appellant’s restitution payments may be longer than his thirty-six months’ probation.” Moreover, under our statutes, the trial court may order an amount of restitution that will only partially compensate the victim for his personal injury or loss or damage to his property caused by the criminal act of the offender. Here, Ms. Jones testified that the value of the horses was between $19,500 and $22,500, but except for the palomino filly offered no evidence as to how she arrived at that value. We do not know whether that value represents the amount the horses would have brought in a sale between a willing buyer and seller or some other “value” Ms. Jones placed upon the horses. And, although Ms. Jones said she had documents to show what was paid for the horses, she did not bring them to the hearing. Also, there was evidence that when appellant sold the horses he received a check for only $1,600. At the hearing, Ms. Jones’s ex-husband testified that the black Arabian was purchased for $1,000 and was given to Mrs. Jones by his father; the white Arabian was a foal of the black Arabian and was worth about $500; one quarter horse was purchased for $3,500 several years before; and the second quarter horse was purchased for $2,500. These amounts total $7,500, and I would reduce the restitution in this case to that amount. Not only do I think that is the highest amount justified by the evidence, I think the evidence also indicates that the amount set by the trial court will either be a disappointment to the victim (because it will never be paid or will be paid in small amounts over a long period of years) or the appellant will be pushed into other crime in an attempt to pay the large amount fixed as restitution for this one. Therefore, I dissent.