People v. Donaldson CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

Defendant Scott Donaldson was convicted of vandalism and assault, stemming from a violent argument with his wife. The argument stopped when their then nine-year-old son entered the house. Defendant left immediately with their son because defendant did not want him to be upset when the police arrived. One of defendant’s probation conditions was to participate in a domestic violence batterer’s treatment program, including a parenting component. Defendant challenges the parenting component on two grounds: (1) there was no evidence that he was not a good parent, and (2) the parenting component was not reasonably related either to the crimes of which he was convicted or to preventing future criminality. We conclude the trial court did not err by requiring the parenting component as part of defendant’s probation conditions. At a minimum, defendant exposed his young son to a violent episode between his parents. It was well within the court’s broad exercise of discretion to impose a probation condition that could help prevent exposing defendant’s son to further violence in the future. We therefore affirm.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant was married to…