Court Opinion

ID: 9553116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 19:22:22.330001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:29:43.980063
License: Public Domain

WALTERS, Chief Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree that the judgments of conviction in this case should be affirmed. I am unpersuaded, however, that the sentences should, at this time, be adjusted on appeal. As noted by the majority, whether the trial judge engaged in a sound exercise of sentencing discretion has been troublesome. I readily admit that the majority has formulated a sentencing structure for each of the defendants, on the various convictions, that will perhaps more adequately serve the objectives of sentencing than the terms imposed by the district judge. My concern, however, is whether such an adjustment is best suited in the appellate court than in the trial court, in this case and at this time.
We have held that we will not substitute our view of a case for the soundly exer*70cised discretion of a district judge on the choice of an appropriate sentence. State v. Torres, 107 Idaho 895, 693 P.2d 1097 (Ct.App.1984). The objectives of sentencing can seldom, if ever, be achieved in any given case to a degree of perfection. Here I am not convinced the district court failed to soundly exercise his discretion. I believe it would be more appropriate.for the district court, upon motion under I.C.R. 35 which is available to the defendants within 120 days following our affirmance of their convictions, to determine whether any alteration in the sentences is in order. See State v. Gratiot, 104 Idaho 782, 663 P.2d 1084 (1983).
A motion under Rule 35 essentially is a plea for a leniency which may be granted if a sentence originally imposed was, for any reason, unduly severe. Torres, supra. Such a motion also calls for the exercise of discretion by the sentencing judge. In this case, if such a motion were made and denied, further appellate review of the sentences could result, but only after the defendants had exhausted modification recourses available before the sentencing judge. On that basis, I would presently affirm the sentences, without modification.