RENDERED: JUNE 2, 2023; 10:00 A.M.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Court of Appeals

NO. 2021-CA-1324-MR

HOWARD GRIBBINS APPELLANT 

v. 

APPEAL FROM MARION CIRCUIT COURT

HONORABLE KAELIN G. REED, JUDGE

ACTION NOS. 07-CR-00201, 07-CR-00202, 07-CR-00203,

07-CR-00204, 19-CR-00155, 19-CR-00156, 20-CR-00054,

AND 21-CR-00079

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE 

AND

NO. 2021-CA-1327-MR

HOWARD GRIBBINS APPELLANT 

v. 

APPEAL FROM MARION CIRCUIT COURT

HONORABLE KAELIN G. REED, JUDGE

ACTION NO. 07-CR-00200

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE 

OPINION

AFFIRMING
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**   **  **

BEFORE: CALDWELL, COMBS, AND LAMBERT, JUDGES.

CALDWELL, JUDGE: Howard Gribbins (“Gribbins”) appeals from the Marion 

Circuit Court’s order revoking probation and imposing a combined sentence of 

seventeen (17) years’ imprisonment. We affirm. 

FACTS

Gribbins has an extensive criminal history. In 2007, he was indicted 

for five counts of burglary in the second degree, one count of criminal mischief,

and two counts of theft by unlawful taking over $300.

1

 He entered a guilty plea to 

all charges and was sentenced to seven (7) years’ imprisonment, which sentence 

was probated for five (5) years. 

Between 2011 and 2013, Gribbins was charged with several violations 

of probation and new criminal offenses, which ranged from traffic infractions to 

felony charges. Each time he violated his probation or gained a new charge he was 

sanctioned, but his probation was never revoked. 

While still serving the probated sentence, Gribbins was indicted in 

2019. He faced one count of possession of a controlled substance 

1 The statute in effect at the time of Gribbins’ arrest and prosecution provided that theft of 

property of another with a value more than $300 was a Class D felony. “(2) Theft by unlawful 

taking or disposition is a Class A misdemeanor unless the value of the property is three hundred 

dollars ($300) or more, in which case it is a Class D felony[.]” Kentucky Revised Statutes 

(“KRS”) 514.030, 2000 Kentucky Laws Reg. Sess. Ch. 233 (H.B. 501).
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(methamphetamine), one count of terroristic threatening in the third degree, two 

counts of burglary in the second degree, one count of burglary in the third degree, 

three counts of theft by unlawful taking over $500, one count of trafficking in a 

controlled substance (methamphetamine), one count of trafficking in marijuana, 

one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a persistent felony 

offender in the first degree. 

In 2020, he faced indictments for one count of trafficking in a 

controlled substance (methamphetamine). And in 2021, he was charged with one 

count of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), one count of 

trafficking in marijuana, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. 

While waiting for the resolution of all of these new charges from 

2019-2021, he was released by the court to residential treatment. While at the 

treatment center, he tested positive for fentanyl and ended up leaving the treatment 

center against medical advice. He was then ordered to a different residential 

treatment center, but he left that center after only five days, against medical advice 

once again.

He appeared in court in April of 2021 and entered pleas to the pending 

charges, with some of the charges being dismissed by the prosecution. Gribbins 

was sentenced to seventeen (17) years to serve, probated for five (5) years. This 

sentence concerned the charges to which he pleaded guilty that day as well as 
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previous sentences which had been previously probated. A condition of his 

probation was that he successfully complete a long-term residential drug treatment

program. 

As he did previously, Gribbins once again left the residential 

treatment center before successful completion of the program and against medical 

advice. The Division of Probation and Parole was notified that Gribbins had failed 

to complete the program and was returned to his home by the center several days 

later. A warrant was then issued for his arrest in September of 2021. 

Upon his arrest, the Commonwealth filed a motion to revoke his 

parole. Attached to the motion was the Violation of Supervision Report authored 

by his probation officer. That Report outlined the present violations, as well as 

outlining his criminal history and prior violations of probation and the sanctions 

imposed for those violations. 

A probation revocation hearing was held in late September. The 

probation officer testified concerning the present allegations of probation violation, 

which consisted of testing positive for fentanyl and absconding for failure to keep 

in contact with her after he left the treatment program. Gribbins also provided 

testimony at the hearing. He admitted to having left the treatment program without 

permission, but denied having used fentanyl. 
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The Marion Circuit Court entered an order revoking his probation and 

imposing the seventeen (17) year sentence. He appeals the revocation of his 

probation and the imposition of the sentence of imprisonment. We affirm.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In 2011, the Kentucky General Assembly passed what is commonly 

referred to as “House Bill 463.” This legislation made changes to sentencing 

policy aiming to reduce recidivism and criminal conduct. See KRS 532.007(1). 

One of the changes contained in House Bill 463 was the creation of KRS 

439.3106:

Supervised individuals shall be subject to:

(1) Violation revocation proceedings and possible 

incarceration for failure to comply with the 

conditions of supervision when such failure 

constitutes a significant risk to prior victims of 

the supervised individual or the community at 

large, and cannot be appropriately managed in 

the community; or

(2) Sanctions other than revocation and 

incarceration as appropriate to the severity of 

the violation behavior, the risk of future 

criminal behavior by the offender, and the need 

for, and availability of, interventions which 

may assist the offender to remain compliant 

and crime-free in the community.

Following the enactment of KRS 439.3106, the Kentucky Supreme 

Court determined that before revoking probation, a trial court should consider 
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whether “1) the probationer’s failure to abide by the conditions of supervision 

constitutes a significant risk to prior victims or the community; and 2) the 

probationer cannot be managed in the community.” Commonwealth v. Andrews,

448 S.W.3d 773, 776 (Ky. 2014).

So, in determining whether to revoke probation, a trial court must first 

determine that the probationer cannot be managed in the community and presents a 

significant risk to the community. On review of a trial court’s order revoking 

probation, we must determine whether the Andrews factors were considered by the 

trial court before turning to a determination of whether the decision to revoke was 

an abuse of discretion. 

The first step in analyzing a probation revocation

claim is to determine whether the trial court properly 

considered KRS 439.3106(1) before revoking the 

defendant’s probation. Andrews, 448 S.W.3d at 780. If 

the trial court considered the statute, we then review 

whether its decision to revoke probation was an abuse of 

discretion. Id. Accordingly, “we will disturb a ruling 

only upon finding that ‘the trial judge’s decision was 

arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound 

legal principles.’” Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. 

English, 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999)).

Commonwealth v. Gilmore, 587 S.W.3d 627, 629 (Ky. 2019).

ANALYSIS

At the hearing, the trial court acknowledged that sentencing someone 

to seventeen (17) years’ imprisonment for absconding for three (3) months seemed 
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an overreach, but stated that there was no one more deserving of revocation than 

Gribbins if his entire criminal history could be considered. The trial court stated it

was not sure what the standard was as far as whether it could consider past 

criminal history and reserved ruling pending researching the question.

In the order ultimately issued revoking Gribbins’ probation, the first 

case cited by the court was Williams v. Commonwealth, 462 S.W.3d 407 (Ky. App. 

2015). In Williams, a panel of this Court explained that in Andrews, supra, the 

Kentucky Supreme Court made it clear that a trial court is not to simply consider 

only the present violations of probation, but also the listed considerations in the 

Regulations. Id. at 411-12.

Andrews holds that a trial court must address more 

than the fact of the violation of the terms of probation; in 

addition, it must consider whether the probationer 

constitutes a significant risk either to a victim or to the 

community at large. And it must evaluate whether or not 

he can be managed in that community. Andrews requires 

both the trial court and the Department of Corrections to 

consider a range of sanctions graduated in severity as 

reflected by the level of risk posed by the supervised 

individual:

The language of KRS 439.3106(2) regarding 

“other sanctions” loosely tracks KRS 439.3107, 

which directs the DOC to adopt a system of 

graduated sanctions for “the most common types 

of supervision violations.” Under 439.3108(1)(a), 

the DOC, “notwithstanding any administrative 

regulation or law to the contrary,” has the authority 

to modify the conditions of probation “for the 

limited purpose of imposing graduated 
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sanctions[.]” The guidelines for applying 

graduated sanctions are set forth in 501 Kentucky 

Administrative Regulations (“KAR”) 6:250. 

When imposing graduated sanctions under this 

regulation, a probation officer must first consider 

various factors including:

(a) Offender’s assessed risk and needs level;

(b) Offender’s adjustment on supervision;

(c) Severity of the current violation;

(d) Seriousness of the offender’s previous criminal 

record;

(e) Number and severity of any previous 

supervision violations; and

(f) Extent to which graduated sanctions were 

imposed for previous violations.

Id. 

In the order, the trial court found that Gribbins had violated probation

presently by absconding and failing to complete ordered treatment. Further, the 

court found that Gribbins’ failure to follow the terms of probation numerous times 

indicated he presented a significant risk to the community at large and, because of 

his previous instances of noncompliance, he could not be appropriately managed in 

the community. Because of the severity of the violations committed and the risk of 

future criminal behavior, the court held sanctions were not appropriate and 

imprisonment was necessary because Gribbins needed correctional treatment.
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The trial court’s order was appropriate and just. The judge

determined that graduated sanctions were not appropriate because Gribbins could 

not be adequately managed in the community and presented a significant risk to the 

community. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by determining 

revocation of Gribbins’ probation was necessary, not only because of the present 

violations, which were sufficient on their own to support the decision to revoke, 

but due to his repeated failure to follow the orders of court and the dictates of his 

probation. In Andrews, it was made clear that past criminal history cannot be the

only reason for revocation, but can be considered in determining the risk of 

allowing an offender to remain on probation. 448 S.W.3d at 780 (“While [the 

probationer’s] criminal history could not be the sole basis for his revocation, it was 

appropriately considered when assessing the risk posed by his continued 

probation.”).

Gribbins suggests the trial court violated his due process rights when 

he was not given notice that his past criminal behavior would be considered as a 

basis for revoking his probation. Such is factually incorrect in that the motion to 

revoke cited the Supervision Report of his probation officer which included a 

recitation of Gribbins’ criminal history and his repeated failures to follow the 

directions of the court or of his probation officers. Therefore, Gribbins did, in fact,

receive notice of the present allegations, as well as the significance of past 
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violations of probation. This allegation has no merit. Even so, the court’s order 

makes it clear he was not revoked because of his past history, but that his past 

history, in considering present violations, supported the finding necessary pursuant 

to Andrews that he could not be appropriately managed in the community and 

presented a significant risk to the community.

CONCLUSION

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in revoking Gribbins’ 

probation. We affirm.

ALL CONCUR.

BRIEF FOR APPELLANT:

Adam Meyer

Frankfort, Kentucky

BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

Daniel Cameron

Attorney General of Kentucky

Rachel A. Wright

Assistant Solicitor General

Matthew F. Kuhn

Solicitor General

Frankfort, Kentucky