State v. Miller

BURNETT, Judge.

For most of the twentieth century, our correctional system in Idaho has been anchored upon the concept of indeterminate sentencing. However, in 1977 our Legislature embarked upon a new course, authorizing district judges to choose fixed term sentences as alternatives to indeterminate sentences. I.C. § 19-2513A. Today we encounter a case that requires us to determine whether a fixed sentence is excessive.

Danny Dean Miller shot and killed a young woman with whom he was intimately acquainted. They had driven a car to a place near the Snake River in Minidoka County. Miller later…