Summary
Second District Judge John Stegner decides to forego sentencing review and orders former sheriff to undergo alcohol treatment at the Idaho State Correctional Institution.
Story Published: Sep 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM PST
Story Updated: Sep 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM PST
In a short letter sent to attorneys on both sides Wednesday, Stegner said it's best for Jim Dorion to stay in Boise for his "ongoing medical needs."
According to Dorion's attorney Joe Filicetti, Dorion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. Dorion was airlifted to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise last month for what was called a serious but to date, unreleased medical condition, after initially being admitted to Clearwater Hospital.
Filicetti said Dorion was covered with bruises when he was admitted.
Dorion is currently in a wheelchair, recovering from a broken foot.
Dorion was convicted last month of being an accessory to a 2006 Burglary at Lewiston High School. Stegner sentenced Dorion to 2-5 years in prison, and put him on a period of retained jurisdiction to get at least six months of alcohol treatment at the North Idaho Correctional Institution in Cottonwood.
Dorion was set to be in a Nez Perce County courtroom Thursday to review the sentence in the case. That hearing was cancelled.
In August, attorneys for both sides agreed Dorion should have been put on probation, but in his letter, Stegner wrote, "If I were to place him on probation I believe he would simply revert to his well-recognized alcoholism and violate his probation." Stegner added "the best place for Mr. Dorion currently is in the custody of the Department of Correction in Boise."
Dorion is being held at the Idaho State Correctional Institution.