Leuch v. State

633 P.2d 1006, 1981 Alas. LEXIS 545
CourtAlaska Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 25, 1981
Docket5255
StatusPublished
Cited by62 cases

This text of 633 P.2d 1006 (Leuch v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alaska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leuch v. State, 633 P.2d 1006, 1981 Alas. LEXIS 545 (Ala. 1981).

Opinions

OPINION

RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice.

David Leuch pled guilty to two counts of grand larceny. The superior court imposed concurrent sentences of eight years with four suspended. Leuch now appeals this sentence, claiming it is excessive.

The offenses to which Leuch and his co-defendant, Michael Darr, pled guilty involved the theft of two motorcycles from the Fairbanks Harley-Davidson dealership and the theft of a safe, a dolly, and approximately $12,000 from the Healy Roadhouse on the Parks Highway.1

[1008]*1008The presentence report on Leuch’s background shows that he grew up in a “stable, loving environment” with his adoptive parents in California. During that time, he graduated from high school, having participated in the tennis and music programs and served as class president. He attended college for a time, but his grades show that he was a poor student at this level.

In 1975, having taken a three-month course in truck driving, Leuch began to drive a truck cross-country. In 1976, he worked for a few months for a Manpower program in Denver, Colorado, then came to Anchorage in June of 1976 to find a trucking job. For three months in 1977, he was employed as a driller’s helper. From June of 1977 to February of 1979 he worked as a cab driver, leasing his own taxi for the last nine months of that time.

His criminal record up to that point consisted only of several traffic offenses. On February 14,1979, however, he was convicted of twenty-six counts of unemployment fraud, for which he was given a ninety-day sentence with all but fifty-four suspended, together with a fine of $260, and was required to make restitution in the amount of $1,274.2

It was during this initial incarceration on the unemployment fraud charges that he met his co-defendant Michael Darr. After their release, the two traveled to Fairbanks together purportedly intending to file on a gold claim of Darr’s. Upon their arrival in Fairbanks, their truck broke down. They tried to spend the night in the truck until it got too cold, according to Leuch, and then they entered a church (unlocked, by Leuch’s account) which apparently led to their conviction in Fairbanks on June 12 of petty larceny and unauthorized entry.3 Leuch was given ten days in jail. During that time, he apparently injured his knee, was hospitalized for surgery on some torn cartilage in that knee, and later convalesced at Careage North a convalescent home in Fairbanks. There he met a health care assistant who, presumably concerned about the fact that he knew few people in Fairbanks apart from Darr, allowed Leuch to reside with her until he was able to find suitable work.

The theft of the motorcycles was, in Leuch’s words, sheer impulse on his part; he indicated that Darr, who had been considering the act for a couple of weeks, suggested it. They went to the motorcycle store; Leuch broke a window with a rock; Darr climbed through the window and opened the door; and each removed a motorcycle which they stored at a friend’s cabin.

The Healy Roadhouse theft was to get money to ship the motorcycles out of the state. The health care assistant with whom Leuch was residing had a friend who had formerly been employed at the Roadhouse and apparently had a grudge against its owner. This friend supplied Darr and Leuch with the floor plans of the Roadhouse to enable them to locate the safe. Darr and Leuch, having planned the venture for two weeks in advance, broke in by unscrewing a single bolt lock on the back door. They then found a dolly and used it to to remove the safe, taking both safe and dolly in a station wagon to a dirt road off Chena Pump Road. They broke into the safe and found about $7500 cash, along with numerous checks and notes which they burned.4 They then dumped the safe into the river.

[1009]*1009Leuch’s letter explaining the incidents expressed his remorse over the harm caused the victims by his actions.5 He stated that he had been in a depressed state of mind during his recuperation, and that he was too easily influenced by his companions.

Letters on Leuch’s behalf were submitted from Leuch’s girlfriend, opining that Leuch, being new to Fairbanks, had been unduly influenced by his relationship with Darr, whom she had known for a long time and regarded as “bad company”; from his girlfriend’s mother, stressing that she would continue to accept him into her home and endeavor to provide a positive influence; and from Leuch’s parents, stating that Leuch’s criminal activity came as a shock to them and that they were sure he would never engage in criminal behavior again. An institutional counselor in Anchorage indicated that Leuch had adjusted well to incarceration and was in the less secure section of the jail.

The probation officer preparing the pre-sentence report noted that Leuch was the product of a stable home environment; that he appeared to be a dependable worker; that he was cooperative during the interview; and that he appeared to feel remorse for his actions. Although Leuch used alcohol and drugs (marijuana and occasionally cocaine), they were not a- factor in the offenses. The probation officer attributed Leuch’s criminal conduct to several factors: the fact that Leuch was an impulsive individual 6 with poor judgment, especially with respect to choosing his associates; his lack of employment and poor financial situation; his lack of discipline and structure in goal orientation; and his lack of familial ties in Alaska, where he apparently plans to reside. The probation officer noted that Leuch stated he had two job offers, one as a trucker north of Fairbanks and the other as a laborer in a cannery in Dutch Harbor. The probation officer did not, however, regard either of these opportunities as a viable job plan. The presentence report concluded by recommending incarceration, in view of the seriousness of the offenses and the large amounts of money involved, and the fact that Leuch had apparently not learned from his prior contacts with the criminal justice system.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor apparently ignored his agreement with. Leueh’s defense counsel to bring to the court’s attention Leuch’s cooperation with the state in offering to testify against Darr, and this was pointed out by defense counsel.7 It was also brought out that Darr, learning of Leuch’s cooperation, had made statements indicating that he intended to retaliate physically against Leuch.8

[1010]*1010The superior court did not find Leuch to be the worst offender within the class, but found the question a close one. The court stated that although this was Leuch’s first felony offense, his misdemeanor convictions showed extreme dishonesty, and that he was on his way to becoming a professional criminal. But the court also noted that, to Leuch’s credit, he had admitted his participation and that his attitude in jail appeared to be good. The superior court assessed the Chaney factors9 as follows: Leuch’s chances of rehabilitation were greater than those of Darr, which were described as “slim”; there was also a little higher likelihood that Leuch would be deterred by a sentence than in the case of Darr, where the likelihood was “not that good”; the necessity of.isolation for the protection of the community was high; and the extent of community condemnation was also high.

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Bluebook (online)
633 P.2d 1006, 1981 Alas. LEXIS 545, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leuch-v-state-alaska-1981.