State v. Ashmore

2012 UT App 354, 292 P.3d 89, 2012 WL 6554722, 2012 Utah App. LEXIS 375

• Court: Court of Appeals of Utah
• Decided: December 13, 2012
• Docket: 20110623-CA
• Status: Published

Opinion

DECISION

PER CURIAM:

T1 Troy Lee Ashmore appeals his sentence after pleading guilty to forcible sexual abuse. Ashmore argues that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him to one to fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.

12 We review the sentencing decision of the district court, including the decision to grant or deny probation, for abuse of discretion. See State v. Valdovinos, 2003 UT App 432, 114, 82 P.3d 1167. "An abuse of discretion results when the judge fails to consider all legally relevant factors, or if the sentence imposed is clearly excessive." Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Furthermore, "[aln appellate court may only find abuse if it can be said that no reasonable [person] would take the view adopted by the trial court." Id. (alteration in original) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Finally, a "defendant is not entitled to probation, but rather the court is empowered to place the defendant on probation if it thinks that will best serve the ends of justice and is compatible with the public interest." State v. Rhodes, 818 P.2d 1048, 1051 (Utah Ct.App.1991).

13 Ashmore asserts that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him to prison because the presentence investigation report, as well as a report prepared by Utah Sentencing Alternatives, both recommended three years of probation with one year or less in the county jail. He also alleges that the district court inappropriately speculated on the cause of the crime when the court stated that there might be "something underlying here that just maybe perhaps hasn't come forward." The record demonstrates that the district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Ashmore to prison in lieu of some lesser sentence. While the presentence investigation report and the report prepared by Utah Sentencing Alternatives both recommended a blended sentence comprised of probation and up to a year in the county jail, other evidence supported a greater sentence. For example, the nature of the relationship between Ashmore and the victim and Ashmore's choking of the victim in order to prevent her from screaming both weighed in favor of a greater sentence. The impact on the victim, who indicated that because of the crime she now suffers from "depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, insomnia, disassociation, and loss of appetite," also weighed toward a greater sentence. Under the totality of the cireum-stances, we cannot conclude that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing Ash-more to prison. See Valdovinos, 2008 UT App 482, ¶ 14, 82 P.3d 1167.

T4 Ashmore also alleges that the district court abused its discretion by improperly relying on unsupported speculation to support its sentencing decision. Specifically, he points to the district court's statement made shortly after announcing its sentencing decision, that there must be "something underlying here that just maybe perhaps hasn't come forward." Ashmore asserts that this statement demonstrates that the district court relied on its own speculation concerning the motive behind the assault rather than the specific facts of the case to support the sentence. Ashmore unduly emphasizes the statement. Although after sentencing was complete the district court expressed its puzzlement as to the motive behind the sexual assault, it specifically noted that its sentence-ing decision was based upon the evidence presented and the arguments made at the sentencing hearing. Thus, the district court did not inappropriately rely on non-relevant speculation in sentencing Ashmore to prison.

5 Affirmed.