State v. Wilde
| Decision Date | 08 March 2023 |
| Docket Number | 49302 |
| Parties | STATE OF IDAHO, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. ROBERT KENNETH WILDE, Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | Idaho Court of Appeals |
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District State of Idaho, Ada County. Hon. Lynn G. Norton, District Judge.
Order for restitution, affirmed.
Eric D. Fredericksen, State Appellate Public Defender; Kimberly A Coster, Deputy Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.
Hon Raul R. Labrador, Attorney General; Andrew V. Wake, Deputy Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
Robert Kenneth Wilde appeals from an order requiring him to pay restitution. We affirm.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Wilde pled guilty to trafficking in heroin. According to his plea agreement, he "agree[d] to pay restitution for all charged, uncharged, and dismissed conduct in this case or in any case dismissed by the terms of this offer in an amount to be determined or in the amount of $_TBD." At the sentencing hearing, the State sought $5,900.26 in restitution for its investigation efforts. Wilde represented that he had no objection to the costs of the "lab fees," which amounted to $291, but asked that the remaining amount of restitution be determined later. Accordingly, the district court ordered $291 in restitution and set a hearing to determine the remaining portion of the State's restitution request. The district court imposed a unified thirtyyear sentence, with a minimum period of confinement for ten years, and a fine of $15,000.
At the restitution hearing, the State presented testimony from an officer who testified regarding the value of his time spent on the case. The State also presented evidence of time spent by three other officers. The district court found that the costs associated with the testifying officer's efforts amounted to $2,806.40 but that the State had not presented substantial evidence supporting the costs associated with the three other officers. The district court entered an amended order for restitution totaling $3,097.40. Wilde appeals.
Restitution for costs incurred by law enforcement agencies in cases involving a conviction for a drug offense is discretionary. I.C. § 37-2732(k); State v. Nelson, 161 Idaho 692, 695, 390 P.3d 418, 421 (2017). When a trial court's discretionary decision is reviewed on appeal, the appellate court conducts a multi-tiered inquiry to determine whether the trial court: (1) correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) acted within the boundaries of such discretion; (3) acted consistently with any legal standards applicable to the specific choices before it; and (4) reached its decision by an exercise of reason. State v. Herrera, 164 Idaho 261, 270, 429 P.3d 149, 158 (2018).
Wilde asserts the district court erred in awarding the $2,806.40 in restitution associated with the testifying officer's work related to Wilde's case. Specifically, Wilde asserts it was error to award this amount of restitution "in light of the substantial fine and lengthy prison sentence already imposed, and his lack of assets and earning potential for the foreseeable future." The State responds that the district court did not err because it considered the relevant factors and that the record indicates Wilde is employable. We hold that Wilde waived the argument he asserts on appeal and that, even if considered, he has failed to show error.
Idaho Code Section 37-2732(k) authorizes restitution for costs incurred by law enforcement agencies in cases involving a conviction for a drug offense. We defer to a trial court's determination of the amount of expenses actually incurred by a law enforcement agency if supported by substantial evidence. Nelson, 161 Idaho at 695, 390 P.3d at 421. When deciding whether restitution is proper, a trial court examines a variety of factors. Id. at 697, 390 P.3d at 423. Thus, there are two components to a trial court's restitution decision under I.C. § 37-2732(k): (1) what amount was actually incurred, and (2) whether it is proper to award any of that amount. See Nelson, 161 Idaho at 697, 390 P.3d at 423.
As part of Wilde's plea agreement, he agreed to pay restitution "in an amount to be determined or in the amount of $_TBD." On appeal, however, Wilde "does not challenge the district court's determination that [the law enforcement agency] actually incurred investigation costs of $2,806.40." Instead, his argument on appeal concerns the propriety of the district court awarding this amount. Nonetheless, Wilde asserts that his plea agreement "did not operate to waive his right to appeal whether the district court adequately considered the relevant statutory factors." Whether Wilde waived this argument depends on the scope of his plea agreement. Because plea agreements are contractual in nature, they generally are examined by courts in accordance with contract law standards. State v. Taylor, 157 Idaho 369, 372, 336 P.3d 302, 305 (Ct. App. 2014). As with other types of contracts, the interpretation of unambiguous terms and the legal effect of the plea agreement are questions of law to be decided by the appellate court. Id.
In support of Wilde's assertion that he did not waive the argument he now raises on appeal, he relies on State v. Foeller, 168 Idaho 884, 489 P.3d 795 (2021). In Foeller, the plea agreement provided that the defendant would "pay restitution/reimbursement: If applicable per statute: for all charges, even those dismissed." Id. at 888, 489 P.3d at 799 (brackets omitted). The Idaho Supreme Court held that, by including the words "per statute," the plea agreement incorporated "the statutory factors for assessing restitution." Id. Consequently, the defendant did not waive consideration of the factors listed in I.C. § 19-5304(2), which allows restitution for a victim of a crime. Foeller, 168 Idaho at 888, 489 P.3d at 799. The restitution clause in Wilde's plea agreement does not refer to a statute or otherwise require restitution to be awarded in compliance with a restitution statute. We hold that the restitution clause of Wilde's plea agreement is unambiguous and that, based on the plain language, the only unresolved aspect of restitution was the amount--a determination that Wilde does not challenge on appeal. In short, Wilde cannot agree to pay the amount of restitution determined by the court and then assert it was improper to order him to pay that amount. Consequently, Wilde waived consideration of whether the district court erred in determining that it was proper to award $2,806.40 in restitution for the investigating officer's work on Wilde's case.
Even if the merits of Wilde's argument are considered, he has failed to show error. In determining whether restitution is proper, factors to consider include other fines imposed victim restitution, assets, and previous and prospective earning abilities. Nelson, 161 Idaho at 697, 390 P.3d at 423. Where relevant, the factors set forth under the general restitution statute, I.C. § 19-5304, may also be considered. Nelson, 161 Idaho at 697, 390 P.3d at 423. One of the factors to consider under I.C. § 19-5304 is the financial resources, needs, and earning ability of the defendant. I.C. § 19-5304(7). However, the defendant's immediate inability to pay restitution shall not be, in and of itself, a reason to not order restitution. I.C. § 19-5304(7). Under I.C. § 19-5304(7), inability to pay neither precludes nor limits a restitution award; rather, ability to pay is only one factor for a trial court's consideration when it makes a discretionary restitution determination. State v. Olphin, 140 Idaho...
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