State v. Joseph Jackson Baxter

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

Docket No. 42612

STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2015 Unpublished Opinion No. 710
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Filed: November 16, 2015
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
JOSEPH JACKSON BAXTER, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Defendant-Appellant. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)

Appeal from the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Twin
Falls County. Hon. Randy J. Stoker, District Judge.

Judgment of conviction and sentence; and order relinquishing jurisdiction,
affirmed.

Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Reed P. Anderson, Deputy
Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Lori A. Fleming, Deputy Attorney
General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________

Before GUTIERREZ, Judge; GRATTON, Judge;
and HUSKEY, Judge
________________________________________________

PER CURIAM
Joseph Jackson Baxter pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance,
methamphetamine, Idaho Code § 37-2732(c)(1). The district court imposed a unified ten-year
sentence, with three years determinate, and retained jurisdiction. After sentencing while
awaiting transport from the local jail to the Idaho Department of Correction, but prior to
participating in the retained jurisdiction program, Baxter received new drug-related criminal
charges. The State motioned the district court to relinquish jurisdiction. Following a hearing,
the district court relinquished jurisdiction. Baxter appeals. He also argues that the district court

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abused its discretion by relinquishing jurisdiction and, in the alternative to vacating the order
relinquishing jurisdiction, moves this Court to reduce his underlying sentence.
We note that the decision to place a defendant on probation or whether, instead, to
relinquish jurisdiction over the defendant is a matter within the sound discretion of the district
court and will not be overturned on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. Hood, 102
Idaho 711, 712, 639 P.2d 9, 10 (1981); State v. Lee, 117 Idaho 203, 205-06, 786 P.2d 594, 596-
97 (Ct. App. 1990). The record in this case shows that after sentence was imposed, but while
still in the local jail awaiting transportation, Baxter smoked marijuana and ingested hydrocodone
pills. This demonstrates Baxter’s lack of amenability to rehabilitation. The district court
properly considered the information before it and determined that neither retained jurisdiction
nor probation were appropriate. We hold that Baxter has failed to show that the district court
abused its discretion in relinquishing jurisdiction.
Sentences are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Our appellate standard of review and
the factors to be considered when evaluating the reasonableness of a sentence are well-
established. State v. Burdett, 134 Idaho 271, 1 P.3d 299 (Ct. App. 2000); State v. Sanchez, 115
Idaho 776, 769 P.2d 1148 (Ct. App. 1989); State v. Reinke, 103 Idaho 771, 653 P.2d 1183 (Ct.
App. 1982); State v. Toohill, 103 Idaho 565, 650 P.2d 707 (Ct. App. 1982). When reviewing the
length of a sentence, we consider the defendant’s entire sentence. State v. Oliver, 144 Idaho 722,
726, 170 P.3d 387, 391 (2007).
Baxter argues that all of the relevant goals of sentencing could have been accomplished
with completion of retained jurisdiction and probation. As noted above, however, the district
court found that neither were an appropriate course of action in Baxter’s case. Further, the
record does not indicate that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing.
The order of the district court relinquishing jurisdiction and Baxter’s sentence are
affirmed.

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