State v. Couch

• Decision Date: 25 August 1982
• Docket Number: No. 13761,13761
• Citation: 103 Idaho 496,650 P.2d 638
• Parties: STATE of Idaho, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Michael C. COUCH, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Idaho Supreme Court

Page 638

650 P.2d 638

103 Idaho 496

STATE of Idaho, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Michael C. COUCH, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 13761.

Supreme Court of Idaho.

Aug. 25, 1982.

Herman E. Bedke, Burley, for defendant-appellant.

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

DONALDSON, Justice.

Appellant, Michael C. Couch, was originally charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, in violation of I.C. § 37-2732(a)(1)(A). On February 26, 1980, the trial date, pursuant to a plea bargain, the State reduced the two counts against the appellant and the appellant entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to deliver a nonnarcotic drug or substance, in violation of I.C. § 37-2732(b)(1)(B). ¹ The trial court after determining that the appellant's plea of guilty was freely, voluntarily, and constitutionally made, accepted the plea. The imposition of sentence was deferred and a presentence report ordered.

On May 19, 1980, after reviewing the presentence report, the trial court sentenced the appellant to an indeterminate term of not to exceed five years, said five-year term to run consecutively to any existing sentences against the appellant.

The single issue presented on appeal is whether under the facts and circumstances of this case, the sentence imposed by the district court was unduly harsh and amounted to an abuse of discretion.

In determining what sentence to impose, a trial judge has discretion. E.g., State v. Lopez, 102 Idaho 692, 638 P.2d 889 (1981); State v. West, 102 Idaho 562, 633 P.2d 1140 (1981). To sustain an argument that a sentence which is within the limits prescribed by statute is unduly harsh, the appellant must demonstrate that the trial judge has clearly abused his discretion. E.g., State v. Lopez, supra; State v. West, supra; State v. Bowcutt, 101 Idaho 761, 620 P.2d 795 (1980).

Appellant alleges that the circumstances of his case are "compelling," State v. Dunnagan, 101 Idaho 125, 609 P.2d 657 (1980), and seeks appellate relief. First, appellant contends that he was denied competent counsel which contributed to his receiving the maximum prison sentence. This contention is grounded upon advice to appellant by counsel with respect to answering certain questions contained in the presentence report. Based on this advice, appellant refused to comment in the report upon two convictions which were under appeal. At the sentencing hearing, however, appellant's counsel explained the failure to comment in the report to the trial judge and appellant was given the opportunity to comment orally. Appellant has failed to demonstrate incompetence of his counsel. State v. Tucker, 97 Idaho 4, 539 P.2d 556 (1975). Second, appellant contends that the maximum prison sentence should be reserved for major, habitual offenders. Appellant presents no authority for this philosophical argument. Furthermore, the record reflects that the trial judge was aware of appellant's prior criminal activity which is properly considered in fixing sentence. State v. Powers, 100 Idaho 290, 596 P.2d 802 (1979). Appellant next argues that he was convicted of only one count and thus his sentence should be reduced. This argument is without serious merit. See State v. Bowcutt, supra; State v. Kohoutek, 101 Idaho 698, 619 P.2d 1151 (1980). Finally, appellant argues that he was harassed into the criminal activity which gave rise to this sentence. However, appellant fails to present any authority or evidence to support such an argument and error will not be presumed on appeal but must be affirmatively shown. State v. Wolfe, 99 Idaho 382, 582 P.2d 728 (1978).

The record adequately demonstrates the basis for the sentencing decision. The trial judge closely examined the presentence report, considered six letters submitted on appellant's behalf, the facts and circumstances of this offense, the appellant's prior record, the appellant's previous actions and character, rehabilitation prospects, feasibility of probation, and the interest of society. All of these factors comport with what the court was bound to consider by both statute and caselaw. E.g., 1977 Idaho Sess.Laws, ch. 46, p. 85 (enacted as I.C. § 19-2520; compiled as I.C. § 19-2521); State v. Wolfe, supra at 384, 582 P.2d at 730. The decision to set the sentence to run consecutively to any existing sentences was within the discretion of the trial court. State v. Dunnagan, supra; State v. Lawrence, 98 Idaho 399, 565 P.2d 989 (1977).

Affirmed.

BAKES, C. J., and McFADDEN and SHEPARD, JJ., concur.

BISTLINE, Justice, dissenting.

While it is not open to question that the primary responsibility for sentencing rests with the trial judge, and that 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.2d 323 (1982), it is also true that in exercising that discretion reasonableness is a fundamental requirement, State v. Dillon, 100 Idaho 723, 604 P.2d 737 (1979), and this Court should examine the circumstances of each case to determine whether the punishment imposed is excessive. State v. Weise, 75 Idaho 404, 273 P.2d 97 (1954); State v. French, 95 Idaho 853, 522 P.2d 61 (1974) (Shepard, C. J., and Bakes, J., dissenting). In this regard, the scope of review in cases where a sentence is alleged to be excessive in length requires that this Court make an independent examination of the record, "having regard to the nature of the offense, the character of the offender and the protection of the public interest." State v. Wolfe, 99 Idaho 382, 384, 582 P.2d 728, 730 (1978). See ABA Standards Relating to Appellate Review of Sentences, at 7-8 (Approved Draft 1968). See also, dissenting opinion of Bistline, J., in State v. Adams, 99 Idaho 75, 577 P.2d 1123 (1978). And see brief of the State of Idaho in State v. Greene, 102 Idaho 897, 643 P.2d 1067 (1982).

The Court's opinion, while it will stand casual scrutiny, should in my opinion unfold more than it does, especially as to the consecutiveness of the five-year sentence. In lay parlance, this means that the five years of prison time is in addition to any other sentences laid on Couch. The State's brief informs us that Couch had just been convicted by a jury of two counts of felony in Caldwell, and Couch's brief adds that he had been sentenced to ten years--that is to say, two consecutive five-year sentences. The question Couch's attorney presents is whether Couch really needed that much deterrence to take him out of the drug business into which he had admittedly ventured.

At oral argument Couch's attorney pointed out that all three violations, the two counts in Caldwell, and the one now before us, were part and parcel of his ill-starred enterprise, and on that basis alone imposing a sentence which caused the accumulated prison time to fifteen years was unduly harsh. The argument is made that such severe sentencing "should only be used for major, habitual offenders of the law," as the State characterizes the thrust of Couch's brief. Responsive thereto, the State counters that defendant's past criminal record showed the defendant had been in possession of beer illegally in 1970; that in 1972 the defendant had been charged with possession of marijuana for which offense, reduced to a misdemeanor, he had been put on probation, and, of course, had just recently been convicted of the Caldwell counts which gained him the first ten years of his fifteen year total.

If it is to be the philosophy of this Court that possession of beer (a status offense) and possession of marijuana (considered by many people as a status offense) are henceforth to be the hallmark of habitual criminals, a substantial number of our young people should be made aware that they may well expect to be sentenced to prison for 1/3 to 1/4 of their adult life when they some eight and ten years later again fall into the toils of the law. Unfortunately, although deterrence is likely the main guiding factor in the Court's opinion, such forewarning to other beer and marijuana possessors is not found in the Court's opinion.

In State v....