Court Opinion

ID: 9595447
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:40:36.636228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:06:22.487365
License: Public Domain

BURKE, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. Admittedly, the superior court imposed an extremely heavy sentence in this case. However, I am unable to agree that in doing so the court erred.
The majority’s conclusion that the sentence was excessive appears to be based largely on the fact that until Cleary became addicted to heroin he was a respectable citizen, and the probability that but for his addiction he would not have committed the robberies for which he was convicted. At the same time the majority concedes that a lengthy period of incarceration was called for, recognizing that we have long considered robbery to be among the most serious crimes, particularly where a weapon is used, and that it is appropriate to take into consideration the potential injury to the victim in arriving at a proper sentence.
While it appears fairly clear that the defendant’s difficulties are directly attributable to his addiction, that fact, as sad as it is, merely adds to the difficulty of achieving any genuine rehabilitation. The record in this case makes it abundantly clear that the odds in favor of meaningful behavior modification are poor; that a long and difficult road lies ahead before it can be safely said that Cleary no longer poses a threat to other persons in the community. As Cleary himself stated at the time of sentencing,
I’m really sorry I pointed that gun at you people. I ... I really am. But I would have pointed it at the Pope. What the hell can I say ? I know . . . I know from where I’m at if I go to a penitentiary now, it’s gonna be the same thing when I get out if . people don’t just kick a heroin habit.
Of major significance is Cleary’s record of progress while on probation following his conviction on a federal drug charge in 1974. According to the presentence report in the instant case,
[T]he defendant is a drug addict and apparently has been heavily addicted for some time. Unfortunately, while on federal probation the defendant did not profit from the system and did not take advantage of any drug treatment oriented programs. According to the defendant’s Federal Probation Officer, Mr. Runestead, the defendant’s probation period was less than satisfactory. His reporting habits were less than desirable, the defendant failed to pay any money toward the $1500 fine imposed by the Federal Court on 1-7-74 [over and above a one year sentence suspended after service of 90 days], and of course it all ended with a series of Robberys [sic].
In addition to the foregoing, we find the following comments in the psychological and psychiatric reports made to the trial court. Dr. Jon F. Burke, a clinical psychologist, after suggesting the possibility of providing the defendant with some form of occupational training, as a consideration in sentencing, said:
It may be that with some kinds of success in this area that many of the underlying problems may eventually be resolvable, although this certainly would be a long and arduous process, (emphasis added)
Dr. Aron S. Wolf, a psychiatrist, stated:
Diagnostically, this patient does have a schizoid personality with an overlying depression. He obviously has a severe problem with easy and multiple addictions.
The patient is indeed competent to stand trial on all of his charges. In relation to his competency he does know right from wrong, but it [sic] his habit was as big as he states and with his *958level of depression it is probably [sic] that he was driven by his addiction and it is highly doubtful that he could conform his behavior to the expectations of the law.
In terms of disposition, I feel that this patient will need specific inpatient structured help with his addiction and with his underlying depression. This could be done within the federal penitentiary system, through the NARA program, or in a therapeutic community such as Family House or Synanon. Such treatment could occur throughout this period of incarceration, but should at least be stipulated to happen for the last two years of such incarceration.
In light of his addiction patterns, I feel he needs a very hard inpatient approach to relearning life patterns, or he will find it too easy to avoid his depressive thoughts through the use of heroin. (emphasis added)
In selecting an appropriate sentence the trial court is required to strike a balance between the defendant’s need for rehabilitation and the need to protect the public. Here, the sentencing judge obviously felt that a long period of incarceration was required if the goals of sentencing were to be achieved. Given the record in this case, I fail to see how this court can say that he was clearly mistaken.
In conclusion, I am disturbed by what I consider to be a failure on the part of the majority to pay proper heed to our now well-established standard of review. This court is entitled to interfere in the sentencing process only when the court authorized by law to impose the sentence is shown to be clearly mistaken. The majority opinion, while purporting to recognize that principle, indicates only that the majority has concluded that the goals of sentencing “will be best met in this case” if a lesser sentence is imposed. I am not aware of any requirement that a sentencing judge select the best possible sentence, or even that he select the better of two alternatives. The question is not whether the sentencing judge could have devised a more appropriate sentence, but whether he was clearly mistaken. I am not convinced that he was in this case.
I would affirm.