State v. Robert Lynn Thornton

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Docket No. 37498 STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2011 Unpublished Opinion No. 344 ) Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Filed: February 4, 2011 ) v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk ) ROBERT LYNN THORNTON, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED ) OPINION AND SHALL NOT Defendant-Appellant. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY ) Appeal from the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Cassia County. Hon. Michael R. Crabtree, District Judge. Order revoking probation and requiring execution of unified five-year sentence with two and one-half years determinate for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, affirmed. Molly J. Huskey, State Appellate Public Defender; Spencer J. Hahn, Deputy Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant. Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Lori A. Fleming, Deputy Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. ________________________________________________ Before GRATTON, Chief Judge; GUTIERREZ, Judge; and MELANSON, Judge PER CURIAM Robert Lynn Thornton pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Idaho Code § 37-2732(a)(1)(A). The district court imposed a unified five-year sentence with two and one-half years determinate, suspended the sentence and placed Thornton on supervised probation for three years. Subsequently, Thornton admitted to violating the terms of his probation, and the district court consequently revoked probation, ordered execution of the original sentence, and retained jurisdiction. Following the period of retained jurisdiction, the district court suspended Thornton’s sentence and again placed him on supervised probation for a period of three years. Thornton admitted to violating the terms of his probation for a second 1 time, and the district court consequently revoked probation and ordered execution of the original sentence without modification. Thornton appeals, contending that the district court abused its discretion in revoking probation and in failing to sua sponte reduce his sentence upon revoking probation. It is within the trial court’s discretion to revoke probation if any of the terms and conditions of the probation have been violated. I.C. §§ 19-2603, 20-222; State v. Beckett, 122 Idaho 324, 325, 834 P.2d 326, 327 (Ct. App. 1992); State v. Adams, 115 Idaho 1053, 1054, 772 P.2d 260, 261 (Ct. App. 1989); State v. Hass, 114 Idaho 554, 558, 758 P.2d 713, 717 (Ct. App. 1988). In determining whether to revoke probation a court must examine whether the probation is achieving the goal of rehabilitation and consistent with the protection of society. State v. Upton, 127 Idaho 274, 275, 899 P.2d 984, 985 (Ct. App. 1995); Beckett, 122 Idaho at 325, 834 P.2d at 327; Hass, 114 Idaho at 558, 758 P.2d at 717. The court may, after a probation violation has been established, order that the suspended sentence be executed or, in the alternative, the court is authorized under Idaho Criminal Rule 35 to reduce the sentence. Beckett, 122 Idaho at 326, 834 P.2d at 328; State v. Marks, 116 Idaho 976, 977, 783 P.2d 315, 316 (Ct. App. 1989). A decision to revoke probation will be disturbed on appeal only upon a showing that the trial court abused its discretion. Beckett, 122 Idaho at 326, 834 P.2d at 328. Sentencing is also a matter for the trial court’s discretion. Both our standard of review and the factors to be considered in evaluating the reasonableness of a sentence are well established and need not be repeated here. 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). When we review a sentence that is ordered into execution following a period of probation, we will examine the entire record encompassing events before and after the original judgment. State v. Hanington, 148 Idaho 26, 29, 218 P.3d 5, 8 (Ct. App. 2009). We base our review upon the facts existing when the sentence was imposed as well as events occurring between the original sentencing and the revocation of the probation. Id. Applying these standards, and having reviewed the record in this case, we cannot say that the district court abused its discretion. 2 Applying the foregoing standards, and having reviewed the record in this case, we cannot say that the district court abused its discretion either in revoking probation or in ordering execution of Thornton’s original sentence without modification. Therefore, the order revoking probation and directing execution of Thornton’s previously suspended sentence is affirmed. 3