341 P.3d 602
Idaho Ct. App.2015Background
- Mace pleaded guilty to malicious harassment and was placed on probation with a 120-day county-jail term as a condition of probation.
- After probation violations, the court revoked the withheld judgment, entered a conviction, and imposed a unified five-year sentence with two years fixed; jurisdiction was retained and the sentence ultimately suspended and Mace placed back on probation.
- In 2011 the district court ordered credit on the sentence for 401 days of incarceration prior to revocation; an amended order later increased that credit to 530 days.
- Mace then sought additional credit for other county-jail time; the new judge and both parties agreed that prior credit included time served as a condition of probation, which normally does not entitle credit.
- The district court reduced the credit from 530 to 410 days, prompting Mace’s appeal arguing the court unlawfully increased her sentence by withdrawing the previously granted credit.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| May a court withdraw erroneous credit after it has been granted? | Mace argues the initial grant was a Rule 35(b) reduction and cannot later be reversed. | State asserts the court may correct erroneous credit under I.C.R. 35(c) and is not bound by prior calculations. | Yes; credit may be corrected, and withdrawal of erroneous credit is permissible. |
| Did the August 19, 2011 credit grant constitute a valid Rule 35(b) reduction? | Mace contends the order reflected a Rule 35(b) discretionary reduction. | The record shows no clear exercise of Rule 35(b) discretion and the order was untimely. | No; the August 2011 grant was not a valid Rule 35(b) reduction." |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Moore, 156 Idaho 17 (Ct. App. 2014) (court may correct time-credit errors under I.C.R. 35(c))
- State v. Steelsmith, 153 Idaho 577 (Ct. App. 2012) (withdrawal of time credit authorized to correct illegal sentence under I.C.R. 35(a))
- State v. Izaguirre, 145 Idaho 820 (Ct. App. 2008) (untimely Rule 35(b) motions lack jurisdiction)
- State v. Omey, 112 Idaho 930 (Ct. App. 1987) (timely Rule 35(b) requirements; probation revocation context)
- State v. Banks, 121 Idaho 608 (1992) (post-judgment incarceration as probation condition waives credit)
- State v. Covert, 143 Idaho 169 (Ct. App. 2006) (credit for time served generally not received for probation condition; Banks cited)
- State v. Bitkoff, 157 Idaho 410 (Ct. App. 2014) (discusses credit for incarceration on probation violation)
