State v. Saykhamchone

Somphiane Saykhamchone was found guilty by a jury of first degree murder for the shooting death of a fellow employee at a dairy in Canyon County, Idaho. Following the verdict, Saykhamchone pled guilty to a companion charge of using a firearm in the commission of the homicide, I.C. § 19-2520. The court sentenced Saykhamchone to an indeterminate life term for the murder and to a “consecutive” indeterminate ten-year term for the use of a firearm.

On appeal Saykhamchone challenges his sentence. He contends the court erred by imposing two separate, consecutive sentences rather than imposing a…