State v. Delin

Citation102 Idaho 151,627 P.2d 330
Decision Date22 April 1981
Docket NumberNo. 13408,13408
PartiesThe STATE of Idaho, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Michael Bradley DELIN, Defendant-Appellant.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of Idaho

Owen L. Knowlton of Knowlton & Miles, Lewiston, for defendant-appellant.

David H. Leroy, Atty. Gen., Lynn E. Thomas, Deputy Atty. Gen., Boise, for plaintiff-respondent.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant Michael Delin pled guilty on May 16, 1979, to a charge of possession of a forged check in the sum of $54.54 in violation of I.C. § 18-3605. A similar charge pending in another county was thereupon dismissed. A presentence report was prepared, and a sentencing hearing was held. At the sentencing hearing, Delin stated that he had no ties in the area and that he had been on his way to California when he committed the crime. He did not show that he had any particular job in mind in the area or that he had been promised any job in the area, nor did he show any reason for staying in the area. The court before pronouncing sentence emphasized that there was little likelihood that Delin would stay in the area and complete any kind of probation since he was just drifting through and had no ties to the community. The court also stated that it had considered "many things," and noted that apparently Delin had had problems with other forgeries at another time, and that the court considered forgery to be a very serious thing. The court then sentenced Delin to the Idaho State Board of Corrections for a maximum indeterminate term not to exceed three years.

The sole issue presented on this appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Delin to a maximum term of three years. We hold that it did not.

Delin argues that this was a nonviolent crime and his first felony conviction, and that probation is the desirable and preferred option for a first nonviolent offense. Delin also contends that the court did not consider all the relevant factors for proper sentencing, that the only reason given for the sentence was that Delin was a transient.

Sentencing is within the discretion of the trial court, and a defendant has the burden of showing a clear abuse of that discretion. State v. Dillon, 100 Idaho 723, 604 P.2d 737 (1979); State v. Rice, 99 Idaho 752, 588 P.2d 951 (1979). An examination of the record here does not support Delin's contentions. The trial court considered the likelihood of rehabilitation, the seriousness of the crime and Delin's prior involvement in other similar...

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32 cases
  • State v. Osborn
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • May 26, 1983
    ...defendant has the burden of showing an abuse of that discretion. State v. Olsen, 103 Idaho 278, 647 P.2d 734 (1982); State v. Delin, 102 Idaho 151, 627 P.2d 330 (1981). A sentence fixed within the limits prescribed by the statute will ordinarily not be considered an abuse of discretion by t......
  • State v. Cootz
    • United States
    • Idaho Court of Appeals
    • April 21, 1986
    ...within the statutory maximum will not be disturbed on appeal unless a clear abuse of sentencing discretion is shown. State v. Delin, 102 Idaho 151, 627 P.2d 330 (1981); State v. Beltran, 109 Idaho 196, 706 P.2d 85 (Ct.App.1985). The statutory maximum for these crimes is life for the robbery......
  • State v. Valdez-Abrejo
    • United States
    • Idaho Court of Appeals
    • March 13, 1985
    ...imposition of an indeterminate life sentence for second degree murder was an abuse of discretion by the trial court. State v. Delin, 102 Idaho 151, 627 P.2d 330 (1981); State v. Stroup, 101 Idaho 54, 607 P.2d 1328 (1980). Indeterminate life sentences on conviction of second degree murder ha......
  • State v. Couch
    • United States
    • Idaho Supreme Court
    • August 25, 1982
    ...its discretion in the matter will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of a showing of an abuse of discretion, State v. Delin, 102 Idaho 151, 627 P.2d 330 (1981); State v. Dillon, 100 Idaho 723, 604 P.2d 737 (1979), nevertheless, as was recently observed in State v. Nice, Idaho, 645 P.......
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