State v. McCulley , 305 Neb. 139 ( 2020 )


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  • Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
    www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
    02/28/2020 08:05 AM CST
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    305 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. McCULLEY
    Cite as 
    305 Neb. 139
    State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
    Jennifer A. McCulley, appellant.
    ___ N.W.2d ___
    Filed February 28, 2020.   No. S-19-313.
    1. Sentences: Appeal and Error. Sentences within statutory limits will be
    disturbed by an appellate court only if the sentence complained of was
    an abuse of judicial discretion.
    2. ____: ____. An abuse of discretion takes place when the sentencing
    court’s reasons or rulings are clearly untenable and unfairly deprive a
    litigant of a substantial right and a just result.
    3. ____: ____. Whether a defendant is entitled to credit for time served
    and in what amount are questions of law, subject to appellate review
    independent of the lower court.
    4. Sentences: Restitution: Appeal and Error. The rule that a sentence
    will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion is applied
    to the restitution portion of a criminal sentence, and the standard
    of review for restitution is the same as it is for other parts of the
    sentence.
    5. Sentences: Records. The credit for time served to which a defendant
    is entitled is an absolute and objective number that is established by
    the record.
    6. Sentences: Restitution. Restitution ordered by a court pursuant to Neb.
    Rev. Stat. § 29-2280 (Reissue 2016) is a criminal penalty imposed as a
    punishment for a crime and is part of the criminal sentence imposed by
    the sentencing court.
    7. Restitution: Appeal and Error. On appeal, an appellate court does not
    endeavor to reform the trial court’s order. Rather, the appellate court
    reviews the record made in the trial court for compliance with the statu-
    tory factors that control restitution orders.
    8. Criminal Law: Restitution: Damages. Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat.
    § 29-2281 (Reissue 2008), before restitution can be properly ordered,
    the trial court must consider (1) whether restitution should be ordered,
    (2) the amount of actual damages sustained by the victim of a crime,
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    and (3) the amount of restitution a criminal defendant is capable
    of paying.
    9.    Sentences: Records. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2260 (Reissue 2008) does not
    require the trial court to articulate on the record that it has considered
    each sentencing factor, and it does not require the court to make specific
    findings as to the factors and the weight given them.
    10.    Sentences: Appeal and Error. The failure of the trial court to make
    specific findings concerning the factors set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat.
    § 29-2260 (Reissue 2008) cannot in itself be error or grounds for
    reversal.
    11.    Sentences. The appropriateness of a sentence is necessarily a subjec-
    tive judgment and includes the sentencing judge’s observation of the
    defendant’s demeanor and attitude and all the facts and circumstances
    surrounding the defendant’s life.
    12.    Sentences: Evidence. A sentencing court has broad discretion as to
    the source and type of evidence and information which may be used
    in determining the kind and extent of the punishment to be imposed,
    and evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems
    relevant to the sentence.
    13.    Rules of Evidence: Presentence Reports. Statements made by a
    defend­ant during a presentence investigation regarding his or her finan-
    cial condition are the defendant’s own statements and would be allow-
    able evidence against him or her under the Nebraska Evidence Rules.
    14.    Courts: Plea Bargains. In Nebraska, a court is never bound by the plea
    agreement made between a defendant and the government.
    Appeal from the District Court for Buffalo County: Ryan C.
    Carson, Judge. Affirmed.
    D. Brandon Brinegar, Deputy Buffalo County Public
    Defender, for appellant.
    Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Kimberly A.
    Klein for appellee.
    Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
    Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
    Freudenberg, J.
    NATURE OF CASE
    Jennifer A. McCulley appeals her plea-based convictions
    and sentences. The plea agreement involved a promise by
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    STATE v. McCULLEY
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    305 Neb. 139
    McCulley to pay restitution related to several financial crimes
    in exchange for the State’s reducing some of the charges and
    dismissing other charges against her. After the pleas were
    entered, but before sentencing, McCulley absconded from
    Nebraska to Oregon for nearly 8 years. She was eventually
    arrested, extradited back to Nebraska, and sentenced. McCulley
    appeals her sentences as excessive, claiming that the court
    erred in its calculation of credit for time served and in failing
    to consider her inability to pay the restitution and costs ordered
    as part of her sentences.
    BACKGROUND
    In November 2010, David McConnell engaged an agency
    in Grand Island, Nebraska, to provide in-home care for his
    wife. Shortly thereafter, McCulley began employment, through
    that agency, in the McConnell home. McConnell explicitly
    instructed McCulley that she was not to handle any money
    or financial transactions on behalf of McConnell’s wife. In
    December, McConnell’s bank contacted him about the pos-
    sibility that one of his checks had been forged. He looked
    into the matter and discovered that a number of his checks
    had been used by McCulley to make unauthorized purchases.
    A law enforcement investigation located store surveillance
    videos showing McCulley as the individual passing the
    forged checks. The investigation further identified multiple
    instances of McCulley’s fraudulent misuse of the McConnells’
    credit cards.
    McCulley was originally charged with seven counts related
    to the unauthorized use of McConnell’s financial accounts and
    the misuse of the McConnells’ credit cards. These charges
    included three felony counts and four misdemeanors. McCulley
    and the State reached a plea agreement whereby four counts
    were dismissed and the felony counts were reduced to misde-
    meanors in exchange for pleas that included restitution to the
    businesses defrauded by the transactions, as well as restitution
    to the McConnells. The plea agreement specified the amount of
    each victim’s damages.
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    After entering her pleas, McCulley was released on bond
    until her sentencing hearing. During this period of time,
    McCulley absconded to Oregon.
    In late 2018, McCulley was arrested in Oregon and extra-
    dited to Nebraska. She then appeared for a contempt hearing,
    was found in contempt of court for fleeing the jurisdiction, and
    was sentenced to 30 days in jail. McCulley indicated to the
    court that she went to Oregon to take care of her children and
    was not trying to flee criminal punishment. The court ordered
    McCulley to cooperate with updating the presentence inves-
    tigation report (PSI), which was to include an update of the
    calculation of time served.
    A sentencing hearing was held in February 2019. At the
    hearing, defense counsel was given an option to provide the
    court with any changes or amendments to the updated PSI
    and declined to do so. Defense counsel informed the court
    that McCulley went to Oregon to take care of her children,
    one of whom requires full-time medical care. Defense coun-
    sel recounted the plea agreement and repeatedly mentioned
    that McCulley had agreed to pay restitution as a part of that
    agreement. Defense counsel affirmed McCulley’s willingness
    to pay restitution.
    Defense counsel asked for credit for time served of 20 days.
    When the court asked for clarification based on the time served
    in the contempt charges, however, defense counsel requested
    271⁄2 days.
    After recounting the plea agreement and McCulley’s will-
    ingness to pay restitution, defense counsel then raised the
    court’s statutory duty pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2281
    (Reissue 2008) to consider factors related to McCulley’s ability
    to pay restitution. While raising the statutory inquiry, defense
    counsel reiterated that McCulley is willing to pay restitution.
    At no point did counsel directly suggest that McCulley would
    be unable to pay restitution. Defense counsel explained that
    McCulley had the assistance of family to pay restitution if
    ordered. The court inquired about how much time McCulley
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    would need for restitution, and defense counsel indicated that
    it could be paid by McCulley’s mother on her behalf within 90
    days of McCulley’s release.
    The court made several comments on the record in consider-
    ation of the sentencing factors. The court also asked McCulley
    if she had income during the prior 8 years. McCulley responded
    that she did not work during that time; her only source of
    income was her son’s Social Security payments. However, her
    PSI recounts that McCulley intended to seek part-time employ-
    ment when she returns to Oregon.
    The court sentenced McCulley to three concurrent 1-year
    periods of incarceration and ordered the payment of restitu-
    tion pursuant to the parties’ plea agreement. McCulley was
    further ordered to pay the court costs and extradition expenses
    incurred by the State. Finally, the court found that McCulley
    was to receive credit for 27 days served spent in custody dur-
    ing the pendency of this matter.
    ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
    On appeal, McCulley asserts that the trial court erred in (1)
    imposing excessive sentences, (2) failing to give her credit for
    all of her time previously served, and (3) ordering her to pay
    restitution and costs without ascertaining ability to pay pursu-
    ant to § 29-2281.
    STANDARD OF REVIEW
    [1] Sentences within statutory limits will be disturbed by
    an appellate court only if the sentence complained of was an
    abuse of judicial discretion.1
    [2] An abuse of discretion takes place when the sentencing
    court’s reasons or rulings are clearly untenable and unfairly
    deprive a litigant of a substantial right and a just result.2
    1
    State v. McBride, 
    27 Neb. Ct. App. 219
    , 
    927 N.W.2d 842
    (2019) (petition for
    further review denied June 28, 2019).
    2
    
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    [3] Whether a defendant is entitled to credit for time served
    and in what amount are questions of law, subject to appellate
    review independent of the lower court.3
    [4] The rule that a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal
    absent an abuse of discretion is applied to the restitution por-
    tion of a criminal sentence, and the standard of review for
    restitution is the same as it is for other parts of the sentence.4
    ANALYSIS
    At oral arguments, McCulley conceded that her assignment
    of error alleging excessive sentences in relation to the period
    of incarceration ordered is moot because she has completed
    serving the sentences.5 We agree and do not address it further.
    With regard to her remaining assignments of error, we find
    that the record supports the credit for time served as calcu-
    lated at the sentencing hearing and that there is sufficient
    evidence in the record to support the order for restitution
    and costs.
    Time Served
    [5] We first address McCulley’s assignment of error con-
    cerning credit for time served. McCulley asserts that the court
    incorrectly calculated the time served and requests that the
    credit for additional time served be applied to the court costs.
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 83-1,106 (Reissue 2014) creates the require-
    ment for the court to determine and apply credit for time
    served. The credit for time served to which a defendant is
    entitled is an absolute and objective number that is established
    by the record.6
    When calculating the time served, the sentencing court iden-
    tified the days accounted for in the evidence and the PSI. The
    3
    State v. Phillips, 
    302 Neb. 686
    , 
    924 N.W.2d 699
    (2019).
    4
    State v. McMann, 
    4 Neb. Ct. App. 243
    , 
    541 N.W.2d 418
    (1995).
    5
    See Applied Underwriters v. S.E.B. Servs. of New York, 
    297 Neb. 246
    , 
    898 N.W.2d 366
    (2017).
    6
    State v. Leahy, 
    301 Neb. 228
    , 
    917 N.W.2d 895
    (2018).
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    court referenced the updated PSI and gave defense counsel the
    opportunity to present any additional evidence related to time
    served. Defense counsel recounted the arrests on record in the
    PSI and did not present any evidence of additional time served.
    Based on our review of the record before us, the calculation for
    time served was correct.
    Restitution
    The remaining assignment of error asserts that the trial
    court abused its discretion by ordering restitution where the
    record allegedly did not support McCulley’s ability to pay. We
    find that the record is sufficient to demonstrate that the court
    conducted the inquiry mandated by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2280
    (Reissue 2016), and McCulley has failed to demonstrate that
    the court otherwise abused its discretion in ordering restitu-
    tion. While an ability to pay is not a necessary prerequisite
    under § 29-2280 to an order of restitution, the record supports
    McCulley’s ability to pay. We find no merit to McCulley’s con-
    tention that the district court improperly balanced McCulley’s
    earning ability, employment status, financial resources, and
    family or other legal obligations against her obligations to the
    victims of her crimes, especially when McCulley agreed to pay
    restitution in the amount ordered as a means of obtaining the
    benefit of a plea agreement.
    [6,7] Restitution ordered by a court pursuant to § 29-2280
    is a criminal penalty imposed as a punishment for a crime
    and is part of the criminal sentence imposed by the sentenc-
    ing court.7 On appeal, we do not endeavor to reform the trial
    court’s order. Rather, we review the record made in the trial
    court for compliance with the statutory factors that control
    restitution orders.8 The rule that a sentence will not be dis-
    turbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion is applied to
    7
    State v. St. Cyr, 
    26 Neb. Ct. App. 61
    , 
    916 N.W.2d 753
    (2018) (petition for
    further review denied Aug. 21, 2018).
    8
    See State v. Mick, 
    19 Neb. Ct. App. 521
    , 
    808 N.W.2d 663
    (2012).
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    the restitution portion of a criminal sentence just as it is to any
    other part of the sentence.9
    [8] Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2280 et seq. (Reissue 2008) vests
    trial courts with the authority to order restitution for actual
    damages sustained by the victim of a crime for which the
    defendant is convicted.10 Section 29-2281 elaborates that before
    restitution can be properly ordered, the trial court must con-
    sider (1) whether restitution should be ordered, (2) the amount
    of actual damages sustained by the victim of a crime, and (3)
    the amount of restitution a criminal defendant is capable of
    paying.11 Section 29-2281 provides in full:
    To determine the amount of restitution, the court may
    hold a hearing at the time of sentencing. The amount of
    restitution shall be based on the actual damages sustained
    by the victim and shall be supported by evidence which
    shall become a part of the court record. The court shall
    consider the defendant’s earning ability, employment sta-
    tus, financial resources, and family or other legal obliga-
    tions and shall balance such considerations against the
    obligation to the victim. A person may not be granted or
    denied probation or parole either solely or primarily due
    to his or her financial resources or ability or inability to
    pay restitution. The court may order that restitution be
    made immediately, in specified installments, or within a
    specified period of time not to exceed five years after the
    date of judgment or defendant’s final release date from
    imprisonment, whichever is later. Restitution payments
    shall be made through the clerk of the court ordering res-
    titution. The clerk shall maintain a record of all receipts
    and disbursements.
    Although resititution, like any other part of the sentence,
    involves discretion, we have also held that sentencing courts
    9
    State v. McMann, supra note 4.
    10
    See State v. Mick, supra note 8.
    11
    See State v. Wells, 
    257 Neb. 332
    , 
    598 N.W.2d 30
    (1999).
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    must meaningfully consider the evidence and weigh the statu-
    tory factors set forth in § 29-2281 to determine whether restitu-
    tion is appropriate.12 This is similar to the court’s obligations
    to weigh the statutuory factors set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat.
    § 29-2260 (Reissue 2008) in determining whether or not to
    impose a period of incarceration for an offender convicted of
    either a misdemeanor or a felony for which mandatory or man-
    datory minimum imprisonment is not specifically required. We
    thus look to case law applying § 29-2260 for guidance in our
    application of § 29-2281.
    We have said that § 29-2260 is a directive to the trial
    court as to certain factors to be considered in imposing the
    sentence,13 but also that § 29-2260 does not control the trial
    court’s discretion in its conclusion reached as to the proper
    sentence to be imposed, after weighing the statutory factors.14
    The specified factors must be “accorded weight,” but they are
    neither exclusive of other factors nor “controlling the discre-
    tion of the court.”15 Our review of an alleged abuse of the
    sentencing judge’s discretion in refusing to withhold imprison-
    ment under § 29-2260 must recognize the statutory guidelines
    set out in § 29-2260 for the direction of the sentencing judge
    in imposing or withholding imprisonment,16 but the factors are
    not mathematically applied.17
    [9,10] We have held, further, that § 29-2260 does not require
    the trial court to articulate on the record that it has considered
    each sentencing factor, and it does not require the court to
    make specific findings as to the factors and the weight given
    them.18 Thus, the absence of specific findings concerning the
    12
    See State v. Yost, 
    235 Neb. 325
    , 
    455 N.W.2d 162
    (1990).
    13
    See State v. Hunt, 
    214 Neb. 214
    , 
    333 N.W.2d 405
    (1983).
    14
    See 
    id. 15 §
    29-2260(3).
    16
    State v. Jallen, 
    218 Neb. 882
    , 
    359 N.W.2d 816
    (1984).
    17
    State v. McBride, supra note 1.
    18
    See State v. Hunt, supra note 13.
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    factors set forth in § 29-2260 cannot in itself be error or
    grounds for reversal.19
    [11] We have held that in reviewing a sentence that fails to
    withhold imprisonment, the appropriateness of the sentence is
    necessarily a subjective judgment and includes the sentencing
    judge’s observation of the defendant’s demeanor and attitude
    and all the facts and circumstances surrounding the defendant’s
    life.20 We review a sentence that is within the statutory limits
    for an abuse of discretion by examining whether it is supported
    by the evidence.21
    These same principles apply to an appeal of an order of
    restitution as part of the sentence. Section 29-2281 mandates
    that “[t]he court shall consider the defendant’s earning ability,
    employment status, financial resources, and family or other
    legal obligations,” as well as the defendant’s “obligation to the
    victim,” balancing one set of circumstances against the other.
    Though it is always good practice for district courts to provide
    a record of their reasoning, like § 29-2260, § 29-2281 does not
    require the sentencing court to specifically articulate that it has
    considered the listed statutory factors. It also does not require
    that trial courts make explicit findings as to facts pertaining to
    the statutory factors or the relative weight given to each fac-
    tor. The absence of articulated findings is not in itself revers-
    ible error.
    We disapprove of the Nebraska Court of Appeals’ opinions
    in State v. Mick 22 and State v. St. Cyr 23 to the extent that they
    suggest otherwise. We clarify here that absent evidence to the
    contrary, we presume that the sentencing court has consid-
    ered the appropriate factors to be weighed before determining
    19
    See 
    id. 20 State
    v. Manjikian, 
    303 Neb. 100
    , 
    927 N.W.2d 48
    (2019).
    21
    See, State v. McBride, supra note 1; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2308 (Reissue
    2008). See, generally, State v. Manjikian, supra note 20.
    22
    State v. Mick, supra note 8.
    23
    State v. St. Cyr, supra note 7.
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    whether to order restitution. As always, the burden is on
    the appellant to show that the sentencing court has abused
    its discretion.24
    Like with § 29-2260, the listed factors of § 29-2281 are nei-
    ther exhaustive nor mathematically applied, and the court’s ulti-
    mate determination of whether restitution should be imposed is
    a matter of discretion that is not controlled by § 29-2281. In
    fact, by its plain language, § 29-2281 does not require that
    the defendant be able to pay as a prerequisite to an order of
    restitution—so long as the defendant is not “granted or denied
    probation or parole either solely or primarily due to his or her
    financial resources or ability or inability to pay restitution,”
    which could run afoul of due process and equal protection
    principles.25 While the factors of the defendant’s earning abil-
    ity, employment status, financial resources, and family or other
    legal obligations principally implicate the extent to which
    a defendant is able to pay restitution, notably absent from
    § 29-2281 is any indication that the court lacks discretion,
    when balancing those factors against the defendant’s obliga-
    tion to the victim and other considerations, to order restitution
    as part of a sentence despite an inability to pay. Those factors
    need only be given meaningful weight. We note that in the
    federal system, certain crimes require an order of restitution
    regardless of ability to pay26 and orders of restitution have been
    held not to violate due process or equal protection despite an
    inability to pay, so long as the defendant is not later subjected
    to increased imprisonment or a period of imprisonment beyond
    the statutory maximum solely on the basis of indigency.27
    24
    See State v. McMann, supra note 4.
    25
    See Bearden v. Georgia, 
    461 U.S. 660
    , 
    103 S. Ct. 2064
    , 
    76 L. Ed. 2d 221
         (1983).
    26
    See 18 U.S.C. § 3663A (2012).
    27
    See U.S. v. Dubose, 
    146 F.3d 1141
    , 1142 (9th Cir. 1998) (upholding
    constitutionality of federal “Mandatory Victims Restitution Act” and
    § 3663A). See, also, Annot., 20 A.L.R. Fed. 2d 239 (2007).
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    Thus, even if we were to accept McCulley’s argument
    that she was, at the time of sentencing, unable to pay restitu-
    tion, that would not end our inquiry. McCulley’s sentences
    presented no issue pertaining to McCulley’s being granted
    or denied probation or parole, because the court made it
    clear on the record that probation would not be ordered
    because McCulley had absconded. Under such circumstances,
    § 29-2281 required only that McCulley’s “earning ability,
    employment status, financial resources, and family or other
    legal obligations” be “consider[ed]” and “balanc[ed]” against
    her “obligation[s] to the victim[s].” The record clearly dem-
    onstrates that the district court held a hearing in which evi-
    dence was adduced that enabled the court’s consideration
    under § 29-2281 of the statutory factors relevant to restitu-
    tion. The court asked several questions of McCulley and
    her counsel concerning her employment and other financial
    resources. The court also relied on information contained
    in the PSI. This was sufficient to satisfy the mandate under
    § 29-2281 that the court “consider” earning ability, employ-
    ment status, financial resources, and family or other legal
    obligations.
    [12,13] To the extent that State v. Wells 28 stands for the
    proposition that the evidence pertaining to the statutory con-
    siderations must be “sworn,” we disapprove of it. A sentenc-
    ing court has broad discretion as to the source and type of
    evidence and information which may be used in determining
    the kind and extent of the punishment to be imposed, and evi-
    dence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems
    relevant to the sentence.29 Furthermore, statements made by
    a defendant during a presentence investigation regarding his
    or her financial condition are the defendant’s own statements
    and would be allowable evidence against him or her under
    28
    State v. Wells, supra note 
    11, 257 Neb. at 341
    , 598 N.W.2d at 37.
    29
    See State v. Jenkins, 
    303 Neb. 676
    , 
    931 N.W.2d 851
    (2019).
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    the Nebraska Evidence Rules.30 We find that the court com-
    plied with § 29-2281.
    Once it is established that the court has meaningfully con-
    sidered the evidence and weighed the statutory factors, an
    appeal attacking a sentence imposing restitution is simply an
    allegation that the sentence is excessive. A restitution order
    is reviewed for compliance with the factors from § 29-2281
    rather than § 29-2260, but the procedures for challenging and
    reviewing the sentence are the same. The rule that a sentence
    will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion is
    applied to the restitution portion of a criminal sentence, and the
    standard of review for restitution is the same as it is for other
    parts of the sentence.31
    [14] Because this case involved a plea agreement in which
    the defendant agreed to restitution, such an agreement is rel-
    evant to establishing whether the court abused its discretion.32
    In Nebraska, a court is never bound by the plea agreement
    made between a defendant and the government.33 But in only
    the rarest instances34 do we fail to affirm a sentence that was
    contemplated by the parties’ plea agreement.35 The same is
    true when the sentence involves restitution. A judicial abuse
    of discretion exists only when the reasons or rulings of a trial
    judge are clearly untenable, unfairly depriving a litigant of a
    substantial right and denying a just result in matters submit-
    ted for disposition.36 It cannot usually be said that the trial
    30
    See, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-801(4)(b)(i) (Reissue 2016); State v. Holecek,
    
    260 Neb. 976
    , 
    621 N.W.2d 100
    (2000).
    31
    State v. McMann, supra note 4.
    32
    See, generally, State v. Elliott, 
    21 Neb. Ct. App. 962
    , 
    845 N.W.2d 612
    (2014).
    33
    State v. Landera, 
    285 Neb. 243
    , 
    826 N.W.2d 570
    (2013).
    34
    See State v. Leahy, supra note 6.
    35
    See, State v. Alegria, 
    198 Neb. 750
    , 
    255 N.W.2d 419
    (1977); State v.
    Kirby, 
    25 Neb. Ct. App. 10
    , 
    901 N.W.2d 704
    (2017); State v. Moore, 4 Neb.
    App. 564, 
    547 N.W.2d 159
    (1996).
    36
    State v. Ralios, 
    301 Neb. 1027
    , 
    921 N.W.2d 362
    (2019).
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    judge’s ruling requiring restitution as part of the sentence is
    clearly untenable when the defendant has agreed as part of
    a plea agreement to the specific amount of restitution ulti-
    mately imposed.
    In any event, there is no merit to McCulley’s argument
    that the court abused its discretion, because the record dem-
    onstrated that she was able to pay the restitution ordered. As
    the district court observed, although McCulley indicated she
    was currently unemployed and taking care of a sick child,
    McCulley’s unemployment was voluntary and it was likely
    that she could find gainful employment and still care for her
    children. McCulley had gainful employment prior to her flight
    to Oregon. She also has had the assistance of her mother in
    supporting and caring for her children. McCulley stated in
    the PSI that she is intending to seek part-time employment
    when she returns to Oregon. This is a situation similar to that
    presented in State v. Hosack,37 where the defendant remained
    voluntarily unemployed to take care of his disabled parents
    and help his grandmother and we held that when a court is
    considering the required factors under § 29-2281, the court can
    give weight to the fact that a defendant’s status as unemployed
    is voluntary.
    Nothing in the record before us demonstrates that McCulley
    is unable to find work and to provide appropriate care for her
    children. We also find relevant to McCulley’s ability to pay
    her representations that her mother could provide the funds to
    satisfy the order of restitution. When the court inquired as to
    the timeframe McCulley would need to repay the restitution,
    counsel indicated that it could be paid within 90 days through
    help from McCulley’s mother.
    McCulley does not challenge the method and manner of
    restitution ordered as unreasonable,38 and indeed we observe
    that the court structured the repayment based on a timeframe
    37
    See State v. Hosack, 
    12 Neb. Ct. App. 168
    , 
    668 N.W.2d 707
    (2003).
    38
    See, State v. Wells, supra note 11; State v. Hosack, supra note 37.
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    305 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. McCULLEY
    Cite as 
    305 Neb. 139
    requested by McCulley. McCulley concedes that the restitution
    reflected the correct amount of the victims’ damages, which
    she had agreed to pay as part of the plea agreement. On these
    facts, we find no abuse of discretion by the court in its sen-
    tences that included ordering restitution and costs. We hold that
    the inquiry by the court into McCulley’s ability to pay satisfied
    the requirements of § 29-2281 and that the evidence in the
    PSI, McCulley’s prior plea agreement to pay restitution, and
    McCulley’s representation of her ability to pay at the sentenc-
    ing hearing all provide sufficient factual support for the resti-
    tution ordered as part of the sentences. Nothing in the record
    suggests that the order of restitution was clearly untenable,
    unfairly depriving McCulley of a substantial right and denying
    a just result.
    CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, we hold that McCulley’s assign-
    ment of error related to excessive sentences of incarceration is
    moot. We affirm the district court’s calculation of time served
    and the order of costs and restitution as part of the sentences.
    Affirmed.