Court Opinion

ID: 2827146
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-13 18:11:52.604245+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:33.737925
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                       Docket No. 42369

STATE OF IDAHO,                                 )   2015 Unpublished Opinion No. 592
                                                )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                    )   Filed: August 13, 2015
                                                )
v.                                              )   Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
                                                )
CHARLES EDWARD BURCH, II,                       )   THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED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, Ada
       County. Hon. Lynn G. Norton, District Judge.

       Judgment of conviction and unified sentences of ten years, with a minimum
       period of confinement of five years, for felony driving under the influence and
       consecutive sentences of 180 days in jail for driving without privileges and failure
       to provide proof of insurance, affirmed; order denying I.C.R. 35 motion for
       reduction of sentence, affirmed.

       Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Justin M. Curtis, Deputy
       Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

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

                   Before MELANSON, Chief Judge; GUTIERREZ, Judge;
                                 and GRATTON, Judge
                  ________________________________________________

PER CURIAM
       Charles Edward Burch, II, was found guilty of: felony driving under the influence (DUI),
Idaho Code §§ 18-8004, 18-8005(6) (Count I); driving without privileges, I.C. § 18-8001(4)
(Count II); failure to provide proof of insurance, I.C. § 49-1232 (Count III); and a persistent
violator sentencing enhancement. The district court imposed a unified sentence of ten years with
five years determinate for the DUI charge and 180 days each for the remaining charges. The
sentences for Counts I and III are to run consecutive to the sentence for Count II. Burch filed an

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I.C.R 35 motion, which the district court denied. Burch appeals, asserting that the district court
abused its discretion by imposing excessive sentences and by denying his Rule 35 motion for
reduction of sentence.
        Sentencing is a matter for the trial court’s discretion. Both our standard of review and the
factors to be considered in evaluating the reasonableness of the sentence are well established.
See State v. Hernandez, 121 Idaho 114, 117-18, 822 P.2d 1011, 1014-15 (Ct. App. 1991); State
v. Lopez, 106 Idaho 447, 449-51, 680 P.2d 869, 871-73 (Ct. App. 1984); State v. Toohill, 103
Idaho 565, 568, 650 P.2d 707, 710 (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). Applying these standards, and having reviewed the record in this case, we cannot
say that the district court abused its discretion.
        Next, we review whether the district court erred in denying Burch’s Rule 35 motion. A
motion for reduction of sentence under I.C.R. 35 is essentially a plea for leniency, addressed to
the sound discretion of the court. State v. Knighton, 143 Idaho 318, 319, 144 P.3d 23, 24 (2006);
State v. Allbee, 115 Idaho 845, 846, 771 P.2d 66, 67 (Ct. App. 1989). In presenting a Rule 35
motion, the defendant must show that the sentence is excessive in light of new or additional
information subsequently provided to the district court in support of the motion.          State v.
Huffman, 144 Idaho 201, 203, 159 P.3d 838, 840 (2007). In conducting our review of the grant
or denial of a Rule 35 motion, we consider the entire record and apply the same criteria used for
determining the reasonableness of the original sentence. State v. Forde, 113 Idaho 21, 22, 740
P.2d 63, 64 (Ct. App. 1987); Lopez, 106 Idaho at 449-51, 680 P.2d at 871-73. Upon review of
the record, we conclude no abuse of discretion has been shown.
        Therefore, Burch’s judgment of conviction and sentences, and the district court’s order
denying Burch’s Rule 35 motion, are affirmed.

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