State v. Granger

508 P.3d 335, 170 Idaho 136
CourtIdaho Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 3, 2022
Docket48248
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 508 P.3d 335 (State v. Granger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Granger, 508 P.3d 335, 170 Idaho 136 (Idaho Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

Docket No. 48248

STATE OF IDAHO, ) ) Filed: March 3, 2022 Plaintiff-Respondent, ) ) Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk v. ) ) NATHAN TYLER GRANGER, ) ) Defendant-Appellant. ) )

Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho, Kootenai County. Hon. Cynthia K.C. Meyer, District Judge.

Judgment of conviction and sentence for rape, lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, and sexual exploitation of a child, affirmed.

Madsen Law Offices, P.C.; Henry D. Madsen, Coeur d’Alene, for appellant. Henry D. Madsen argued.

Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; John C. McKinney, Deputy Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. John C. McKinney argued. ________________________________________________

GRATTON, Judge Nathan Tyler Granger appeals from his judgment of conviction for rape, lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, and sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitive material. Granger argues the district court erred when it failed to consider and subsequently redline Granger’s objections to the presentence investigation report (PSI). Additionally, Granger argues the district court erred when it sentenced him for a crime not charged and imposed an excessive sentence. We affirm. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Granger was originally charged with rape, Idaho Code § 18-6101(4) (based on force); forcible sexual penetration by foreign object, I.C. § 18-6608; lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, I.C. § 18-1508; and sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitive

1 material, I.C. § 18-1507(2)(a). Pursuant to a plea agreement, Granger pled guilty to the amended charge of statutory rape, I.C. § 18-6101(2) (based upon age), lewd conduct, and sexual exploitation of a child. A PSI was filed prior to sentencing. Granger privately acquired a neurophysiological evaluation and psychosexual evaluation (PSE). The PSI writer did not receive those evaluations in time to incorporate their analyses into the PSI. The PSI writer, however, did file an addendum to the PSI attaching the full evaluations and a summary of each evaluation. Before the sentencing hearing, Granger filed a “sentencing memorandum” objecting to portions of the PSI. Specifically, Granger objected to: (1) the PSI’s failure to consider the neuropsychological evaluation; (2) the PSI’s failure to consider that the PSE placed Granger in an “average risk category” for “supervision and intervention” in contrast to the PSI’s assessed potential for Granger’s likelihood of recidivism in the “high risk category”; (3) the PSI’s assertion that “Granger appeared to minimize his criminal behavior and deflect partial responsibility on his victims”; and (4) the PSI’s failure to provide any analysis regarding Granger’s “demonstrated” ability to comply with the terms and conditions of his supervision while out on bond. At the sentencing hearing, the district court indicated it had read “all of the assessments, the PSI, the addendum to the PSI, various other letters that have been attached, victim impact statements, and so forth.” During the sentencing hearing, the district court paused the proceedings to review Granger’s sentencing memorandum. The district court then asked Granger if he had any changes, additions, or corrections to the PSI, other than those outlined in the memorandum. Granger responded: No, Your Honor. I think our memorandum cites really--you know, in essence, the underlying concerns are completely set forth in here, and they suggest that the PSR [Presentence Investigation Report] was written without access to some important reports that were filed with the Court, Dr. Tutty’s report, who did a full neuropsychological evaluation and we think more appropriately identified the mental health issues of Mr. Granger, and then, of course, the PSE, which understandably wasn’t available at the time the report was due, but we think that is a more appropriate assessment of the potential for recidivism and recommendations for supervision. As the Court identified, we’ve outlined those in great detail in our objections. I would say that, really, the only fundamental objection outside of not considering these other documents or really appending the PSI with those supplements or for any analysis of those supplements, including the PSE and the neuropsychological evaluation, we were just very concerned with the kind of unsubstantiated opinion at page 20, paragraph four, where the PSR writer asserts

2 that “He appeared to minimize his criminal behavior and deflect partial responsibility on his victims.” That is really kind of a substantive objection outside of those other two matters. In response, the district court directed that “a copy of [Granger’s] sentencing memorandum be sent to the Idaho Department of Correction [IDOC], along with the sealed order correcting information in the [PSI].” Further, the court stated “what I have written is, ‘See objections to PSR in memorandum dated and filed July 1st, 2020,’ and also your specific reference to page 20, paragraph four” of the PSI. In reply to these comments, Granger’s counsel stated, “Thank you, Your Honor.” In accordance with the district court’s comments during the hearing, the district court entered a sealed order “correcting information in the presentence report” on which was handwritten “see objections to [PSI] in memorandum dated July 2, 2020--will be sent to the IDOC. P.20 ¶4--concerned w/ opinion re: minimize & defect [sic].” The district court imposed concurrent sentences of twenty years with six years determinate for statutory rape and lewd conduct, and ten years with six years determinate for sexual exploitation. Granger timely appeals. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW The decision whether to strike information from a PSI is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See State v. Molen, 148 Idaho 950, 961, 231 P.3d 1047, 1058 (Ct. App. 2010). Where a sentence is not illegal, the appellant has the burden to show that it is unreasonable and thus a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Brown, 121 Idaho 385, 393, 825 P.2d 482, 490 (1992). 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). III. ANALYSIS A. Presentence Investigation Report On appeal, Granger argues the district court failed “to consider [his] objections and redline the PSI after review[ing] his [sentencing] memorandum.” Specifically, Granger argues that because the district court did not correct the objectionable information or rule that it would not

3 consider such information, “it must be presumed [the district court] did not ‘reject consideration of inaccurate, unfounded, or unreliable information in the PSI.’” Further, Granger asserts “the appropriate action to take . . . would have been to continue the sentencing hearing to allow more time to hear the objections and respond accordingly.” In response, the State argues Granger failed to preserve his challenge to the district court’s procedure in response to his objections, to show the district court did not consider his objections, and to show the district court should have redlined the challenged information.

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Bluebook (online)
508 P.3d 335, 170 Idaho 136, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-granger-idahoctapp-2022.