Russell Robinson, Jr. v. State

2016 WY 90, 378 P.3d 599, 2016 Wyo. LEXIS 98, 2016 WL 4690655
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 7, 2016
DocketS-16-0003
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 2016 WY 90 (Russell Robinson, Jr. v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Russell Robinson, Jr. v. State, 2016 WY 90, 378 P.3d 599, 2016 Wyo. LEXIS 98, 2016 WL 4690655 (Wyo. 2016).

Opinion

DAVIS, Justice.

[11] Appellant Russell Robmson Jr disagrees with a district court's decision to revoke his probation. He contends that the district court erred at both the adjudicatory and dispositional phases of the probation revocation process. We affirm the revocation and imposition of his sentences.

- ISSUES

[12] Appellant raises three issues, which we have rephrased to more precisely reflect the record and determinations of the district court: I

1. Did the district court abuse its discretion during the adjudicatory phase of the probation revocation hearings by. concluding that Robinson had violated several cond1t1ons of his probation?

*602 2, Was it plain error to receive hearsay evidence during the adjudicatory phase of the probation revocation process?

3. Did the district court err in not reinstating Robinson's probation during the dis-positional phase of the probation revocation process? f

FACTS

[18] Pursuant to a plea agreement, Robinson pled no contest to one count of sexual battery, a misdemeanor, in violation of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-8183 (LexisNexis 2015) and to one count of false imprisonment, also a misdemeanor, in violation of Wyo. Stat, Ann, § 6-2-208(a) (LexisNexis 2015). Because the plea was one of no contest, Robinson was not required to provide a factual basis himself. 1

[T4] Robinson was sentenced to one year incarceration on each count, to be served consecutively, but the district court suspended execution of that sentence in favor of one year of supervised probation on each count, which would result in two years of probation. The probation conditions of the judgment and sentence required Robinson to sign. a probation agreement, remain employed, submit to a sex offender evaluation, and complete any subsequently recommended sex offender counseling.

[15] Robinson also signed a sex offender probation agreement with the Wyoming Department 'of Corrections.. It contained greater detail concerning the conditions in the judgment and sentence. It stated in pertinent part that he would:

16, ... [SJubmit to sex offender evaluation by a Sex Offender Therapist approved by my Agent and will successfully complete any recommended treatment at my own expense. I will comply with all requirements and actively participate in treatment until released by my treatment provider. Furthermore, I will not miss in-dlwdual or group therapy without the prior permission of my Agent or Sex Offender Therapist.
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18. ... [Slubmit to, participate in, and pay for sex offender assessment including, but not limited to, polygraph examinations at the request of my Agent or Sex Offender Therapist.
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22. ... [Rlemain gainfully employed and support my dependents in an occupation determined appropriate by my Agent, in conjunction with my Sex Offender Therapist, unless approved otherwise due to a disability or other circumstances.
28. ... [WIll not begin new employment or change existing employment until given prior approval by my Agent and I will immediately notify my Agent if I am disciplined, terminated or dismissed from work for any reason.

. Robinson initialed each provision of the agreement, and signed it at the end.

[T6] A few months later, the State filed a petition to revoke Robinson's probation. In support of the petition, an affidavit from Robinson's probation agent, Salli Perryman, was attached, The affidavit asserted, inter alia, that Robinson (1) "failed to report loss of employment to his [probation agent]," (2) "failed to submit to, participate in and pay for a polygraph examination" and (8) "failed to enroll in Sex Offender Treatment." Robinson denied the allegations set forth in the petition,

[T7] In accordance with W.R.Cr.P. 89(a)(5), an adjudicative hearing was held, and the State called Ms. Perryman as its only witness. She explained Robinson's failures concerning the sex offender evaluation, submitting to a polygraph test, and confirming his employment, With respect to Robinson's sex offender evaluation, Ms. Perryman testified:

Q. [Progecutor] What gave rise to the allegation wherein you assert that he has failed to complete his sex offender treatment?
*603 A. [Ms. Perryman] When he came in to meet with me on July 9th, he denied his offense, so I .referred him to our sex offender therapist, Chuck Mueller.
Q. And who completes . a sex offender treatment program, if you will, with an individual defendant?.-,t . '
A. Who completes-it?
-Q. Who signs them up for that, does an evaluation?
A. I make the referral,' and then Chuck Mueller does the evaluation.
<⅞. Okay. So did the' evaluation take place?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And what part of the process, as alleged in paragraph 4 of the affidavit wherein you allege he failed to enroll in sex offender treatment, why do you assert that?
A. I assert that because he went and met with Chuck Mueller. - He denied that he committed the offense. Because he denied that he committed his offense, Chuck Mueller has nothing to treat, so because of that, he cannot enroll in sex offender treatment. ,.
Q. Okay. So that’s the .basis—that part of his sentence, his judgment and sentence is at a standstill in other words?
A. Correct.
Q. And you had recited that that was a condition- of his judgment and sentence that was signed by this Court?
A. Yes.

[¶8] Because Robinson denied committing the offenses he had pled to, and could not therefore enroll in sex offender treatment, he was referred for a polygraph examination, as expressly provided for in the probation agreement. See supra, ¶5. Ms. Perryman explained:

Q. [Prosecutor] Okay. What steps do you take as a probation agent in an instance like this wherein somebody does not successfully enroll in sex offender treatment?
A. [Ms. Perryman] What we do is re-refer them for an instant offense polygraph, which is a polygraph over their offense, and then based on the outcome of that, we take a step either to return them back to treatment, or for further assessment.
Q. Okay. And is that requirement articulated in any of these documents?
A. - Yes -
Q. Okay. Which document?
A. ■ It is articulated in the Probation' and ■Parole agreement,, condition number 18.

[¶9] Ms, Perryman testified that she made three attempts to have Robinson take a polygraph, all of which were unsuccessful.

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Bluebook (online)
2016 WY 90, 378 P.3d 599, 2016 Wyo. LEXIS 98, 2016 WL 4690655, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/russell-robinson-jr-v-state-wyo-2016.