State v. Dusty Hal Runner

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

Docket No. 39610

STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2012 Unpublished Opinion No. 659
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Filed: October 3, 2012
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
DUSTY HAL RUNNER, aka DUSTIN HAL ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
RUNNER, ) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
Defendant-Appellant. )
)

Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Ada
County. Hon. Cheri C. Copsey, District Judge.

Orders relinquishing jurisdiction and denying I.C.R. 35 motion for reduction of
sentence, affirmed.

Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Jordan E. Taylor, Deputy
Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Jessica M. Lorello, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________

Before GRATTON, Chief Judge; LANSING, Judge;
and MELANSON, Judge

PER CURIAM
Dusty Hal Runner was convicted of felony violation of a no contact order, Idaho Code
§ 18-920. The district court imposed a unified sentence of five years with two years determinate
and retained jurisdiction. At the conclusion of the retained jurisdiction program, the court
relinquished jurisdiction and ordered execution of Runner’s sentence. Runner made an oral
Idaho Criminal Rule 35 motion, which the district court denied. Runner appeals the court’s
order relinquishing jurisdiction and the denial of his Rule 35 motion.
The decision as to whether to place a defendant on probation or, instead, to relinquish
jurisdiction is committed to the discretion of the sentencing court. State v. Hernandez, 122 Idaho

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227, 230, 832 P.2d 1162, 1165 (Ct. App. 1992); State v. Lee, 117 Idaho 203, 786 P.2d 594 (Ct.
App. 1990); State v. Toohill, 103 Idaho 565, 567, 650 P.2d 707, 709 (Ct. App. 1982). Therefore,
a decision to relinquish jurisdiction will not be disturbed on appeal except for an abuse of
discretion. State v. Chapman, 120 Idaho 466, 816 P.2d 1023 (Ct. App. 1991). The record in this
case shows that the district court properly considered the information before it and determined
that probation was not appropriate. We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion,
and we therefore affirm the order relinquishing jurisdiction.
A Rule 35 motion is a request for leniency which is addressed to the sound discretion of
the sentencing court. State v. Knighton, 143 Idaho 318, 319, 144 P.3d 23, 24 (2006); State v.
Allbee, 115 Idaho 845, 846, 771 P.2d 66, 67 (Ct. App. 1989). In presenting a Rule 35 motion,
the defendant must show that the sentence is excessive in light of new or additional information
subsequently provided to the district court in support of the motion. State v. Huffman, 144 Idaho
201, 159 P.3d 838 (2007). Our focus on review is upon the nature of the offense and the
character of the offender. State v. Reinke, 103 Idaho 771, 772, 653 P.2d 1183, 1184 (Ct. App.
1982). Where a sentence is not illegal, the appellant must show that it is unreasonably harsh in
light of the primary objective of protecting society and the related goals of deterrence,
rehabilitation and retribution. State v. Broadhead, 120 Idaho 141, 145, 814 P.2d 401, 405
(1991), overruled on other grounds by State v. Brown, 121 Idaho 385, 825 P.2d 482 (1992);
Toohill, 103 Idaho at 568, 650 P.2d at 710.
Upon reviewing the record that was before the district court at the time of the denial of
Runner’s Rule 35 motion, we find no abuse of discretion. Therefore, the district court’s decision
to relinquish jurisdiction and the order denying Runner’s Rule 35 motion are affirmed.

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