Court Opinion

ID: 1086377
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-22 18:40:01.980747+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:33.796848
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                      Docket No. 40754

STATE OF IDAHO,                                 )     2013 Unpublished Opinion No. 720
                                                )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                    )     Filed: October 22, 2013
                                                )
v.                                              )     Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
                                                )
MARK RODRIGUEZ, a.k.a. MARK                     )     THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ, MARK                         )     OPINION AND SHALL NOT
ANTHENY RODRIGUEZ,                              )     BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
                                                )
       Defendant-Appellant.                     )
                                                )

       Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho,
       Canyon County. Hon. Molly J. Huskey, District Judge.

       Judgment of conviction and unified sentence of nine years, with a minimum
       period of confinement of four years, for felony driving under the
       influence, affirmed.

       Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Brian R. Dickson, Deputy
       Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

       Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Kenneth K. Jorgensen, 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. We are also asked to
review a sentence of a unified term of nine years, with a minimum period of confinement of four
years, for felony driving under the influence (DUI). We affirm.
       Mark Rodriguez, a.k.a. Mark Anthony Rodriguez and Mark Antheny Rodriguez, pled
guilty to one count of felony DUI. I.C. §§ 18-8004 and 18-8005. In exchange for his guilty plea,
two additional charges were dismissed. Following his plea, Rodriguez was sentenced to a

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unified term of nine years, with a minimum period of confinement of four years. The district
court retained jurisdiction, and Rodriguez was sent to participate in the rider program.
        After Rodriguez completed his rider evaluation, the district court relinquished
jurisdiction.   Rodriguez appeals, claiming that the district court erred by refusing to grant
probation in light of the recommendation of the rider program staff. He also argues that his
sentence is excessive and constitutes an abuse of discretion and that the district court should have
sua sponte reduced the sentence upon relinquishment of jurisdiction.
        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
Rodriguez has failed to show that the district court abused its discretion in relinquishing
jurisdiction.
        Rodriguez also contends that the district court abused its discretion by not reducing his
sentence, sua sponte, pursuant to I.C.R. 35 when it relinquished jurisdiction.         Pursuant to
Rule 35, a court may reduce a sentence within 120 days after the court releases retained
jurisdiction. A court’s decision not to reduce a sentence is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
In conducting our review, we consider the entire record and apply the same reasonableness of the
original sentence. State v. Forde, 113 Idaho 21, 22, 740 P.2d 63, 64 (Ct. App. 1987); State v.
Lopez, 106 Idaho 447, 449-51, 680 P.2d 869, 871-73 (Ct. App. 1984). 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). Applying those
standards, Rodriguez has failed to show an abuse of discretion.
        The order of the district court relinquishing jurisdiction and Rodriguez’s sentence are
affirmed.

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