State v. McKeeth

38 P.3d 1275, 136 Idaho 619, 2001 Ida. App. LEXIS 59
CourtIdaho Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 12, 2001
Docket26539
StatusPublished
Cited by50 cases

This text of 38 P.3d 1275 (State v. McKeeth) 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. McKeeth, 38 P.3d 1275, 136 Idaho 619, 2001 Ida. App. LEXIS 59 (Idaho Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

PERRY, Judge.

William McKeeth appeals from his judgments of conviction and sentences for six counts of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider. McKeeth also appeals from the restitution order. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and reverse in part.

I.

BACKGROUND

On August 24, 1999, McKeeth, a licensed professional counselor, was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider (Counts I-III). I.C. § 18-919. On September 16, 1999, the complaint was amended to include an additional three counts of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider (Counts IV-VI). The six counts stemmed from allegations that McKeeth had sexual contact with six female patients.

On January 10, 2000, a stipulation and consent order was finalized between McKeeth and the Idaho State Counselor Licensing Board (ISCLB). Pursuant to the stipulation, the ISCLB agreed not to proceed with formal disciplinary action regarding allegations identical to those in the amended criminal complaint and McKeeth agreed to “the imposition of discipline” against his professional license. Specifically, McKeeth agreed to: (1) a five-year suspension of his professional license; (2) not practice professional counseling in Idaho; (3) pay “an ad *622 ministrative fíne” of $3000; 1 (4) pay investigative costs and attorney fees in the amount of $2,604; and (5) submit to counseling with a licensed mental health care provider. In addition, the order also delineated the requirements for reinstatement of McKeeth’s professional license after the five-year period.

In his criminal case, McKeeth filed a motion to declare I.C. § 18-919 unconstitutional, a motion to dismiss for double jeopardy, and a motion to dismiss Counts I — III for violation of his right to a speedy trial. Following a hearing held on March 22, 2000, the district court denied these motions. McKeeth entered an I.C.R. 11 plea of guilty to the charged offenses, reserving his right to appeal the district court’s denial of all pre-trial motions. The district court sentenced McKeeth to a one-year term of incarceration for each of the six counts of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider. The district court suspended all the sentences except for the sentence imposed for Count IV and imposed concurrent two-year terms of probation to run consecutive to the remaining one-year term of incarceration. Following a restitution hearing, the district court ordered McKeeth to pay $19,450.29 in restitution to the victims in this case. McKeeth appeals.

II.

ANALYSIS

A. Double Jeopardy

McKeeth argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the charges against him on the ground that his criminal prosecution violated his constitutional right against double jeopardy. McKeeth contends that he was criminally punished for double jeopardy purposes when the ISCLB imposed a fine of $3000 2 and that his subsequent criminal prosecution constituted a second punishment in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and A-ticle I, Section 13 of the Idaho Constitution.

1. Federal Constitution

The Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution provides that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” The Double Jeopardy Clause protects against three abuses: a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and multiple criminal punishments for the same offense. United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 441, 109 S.Ct. 1892, 1898, 104 L.Ed.2d 487, 497 (1989); State v. Talavera, 127 Idaho 700, 703, 905 P.2d 633, 636 (1995). It is the third of these protections at issue in the instant case. We must determine whether the sanctions imposed by the ISCLB constituted a criminal punishment within the meaning of the Double Jeopardy Clause so as to foreclose McKeeth’s subsequent criminal prosecution based upon the identical allegations.

A determination of whether a particular punishment is criminal or civil is a two-step process. This Court must first inquire whether the legislature indicated either expressly or impliedly a preference that the punishment be labeled as criminal or civil. Hudson v. United States, 522 U.S. 93, 99, 118 S.Ct. 488, 493, 139 L.Ed.2d 450, 459 (1997); United States v. Ward, 448 U.S. 242, 248, 100 S.Ct. 2636, 2641, 65 L.Ed.2d 742, 749 (1980); see also Berglund v. Potlatch Corp., 129 Idaho 752, 756, 932 P.2d 875, 879 (1996). Even in those cases where the legislature has indicated an intention to establish a civil penalty, this Court must next inquire whether the statutory scheme was so punitive either in purpose or effect as to transform what was clearly intended as a civil remedy into a criminal penalty. Hudson, 522 U.S. at 99, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459; see also Berglund, 129 Idaho at 757, 932 P.2d at 880. In making this later inquiry, the following factors provide useful guideposts: (1) whether the sanction involves an affirmative disability or restraint; (2) whether it has historically been regarded as a punishment; (3) *623 whether it comes into play only on a finding of scienter; (4) whether the behavior to which it applies is already a crime; (5) whether its operation will promote the traditional aims of punishment-retribution and deterrence; (6) whether an alternative purpose to which it may rationally be connected is assignable for it; and (7) whether it appears excessive in relation to the alternative purposes assigned. Hudson, 522 U.S. at 99-100, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459; Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 168-69, 83 S.Ct. 554, 567-68, 9 L.Ed.2d 644, 661 (1963). These factors must be considered in relation to the statute on its face, and no single factor is dispositive. See Hudson, 522 U.S. at 100-01, 118 S.Ct. at 493-94, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459-60; Kennedy, 372 U.S. at 169, 83 S.Ct. at 568, 9 L.Ed.2d at 661. Only the clearest proof will suffice to override legislative intent and transform what has been denominated a civil remedy into a criminal penalty. Hudson, 522 U.S. at 100, 118 S.Ct. at 493, 139 L.Ed.2d at 459; Kennedy, 372 U.S. at 169, 83 S.Ct. at 568, 9 L.Ed.2d at 661.

Our first inquiry is whether the legislature indicated either expressly or impliedly a preference that the fine of $3000 imposed upon McKeeth be labeled as criminal or civil. The power to regulate the practice of licensed counselors and licensed professional counselors in the state of Idaho is conferred upon the ISCLB. I.C. §§ 54-3404, 54-3407.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
38 P.3d 1275, 136 Idaho 619, 2001 Ida. App. LEXIS 59, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mckeeth-idahoctapp-2001.