Source: https://www.criminal-lawyer-colorado.com/your-legal-rights/criminal-law-for-beginners/colorado-criminal-law-guide-enhanced-sentencing-when-can-a-sentence-exceed-the-maximum-sentence.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-14 21:05:07
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Colorado Criminal Law Guide - Enhanced Sentencing - When Can A Sentence Exceed The Maximum Sentence? - Colorado Criminal Attorney Specializing in Criminal Defense Law in Denver, Colorado
Colorado Criminal Law Guide – Enhanced Sentencing – When Can A Sentence Exceed The Maximum Sentence? – Usually a person charged with a crime in Colorado can rely on what are known as the presumptive range of sentencing. This article will address the exceptions that can lead to – that is exceed much harsher sentences called enhanced or aggravated sentences.
The following charts explain Colorado sentencing laws:
The Presumptive Statutory Maximum Sentences
Under Colorado law, most criminal charges have a presumptive statutory maximum sentence that a court cannot normally exceed. The law divides felony and misdemeanor crimes into classes. Each class is assigned a presumptive range.
These ranges are found in the law as follows:
A Judge has the discretion to sentence below the presumptive range (with extraordinary mitigating circumstances) and above the presumptive range (with extraordinary aggravating circumstances).
But there are situations where the presumptive range of sentencing is “automatically” increased or “enhanced.”
Exception 1 – Colorado Extraordinary Risk Crimes
The Colorado criminal code specifically designates certain crimes as “extraordinary risk” crimes. If a crimes is codified as an “extraordinary risk crime” there is an automatic increase in the presumptive sentencing range.
CRS § 18-1.3-401(10)(a) provides a list of crimes as “extraordinary risk crimes”
1. Aggravated Robbery, CRS § 18-4-302
2. Child Abuse, CRS § 18-6-401
3. Crimes of Violence, CRS § 18-1.3-406
4. Stalking, CRS § 18-9-111(4)
Exception 2 – “Status” Of The Defendant At The Time Of The Crime – CRS § 18-1.3-401(9)
Another sentence enhancement over the presumptive sentencing scheme turns on the presence of certain facts about the defendant at the time of the crime. The following factors trigger enhancement of the sentence – doubling the presumptive maximum but leaving the presumptive minimum in place.
The law – CRS § 18-1.3-401(9) – lists the circumstances that trigger an increase, for example if a Colorado Defendant was under a felony deferred judgment at the time of the alleged commission of a new crime.
CRS § 18-1.3-401(9)
The Impact Of The Apprendi – Blakely Cases – The Jury Must Find The Factual Sentence Enhancer For A Judge To Impose A Greater Punishment
Prior to the year 2000, Colorado sentencing was straightforward – following the categories outlined above. But in 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Apprendi v. New Jersey.
The Apprendit decision, construing the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial, held that:
any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum, other than the fact of a prior conviction, must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Then, in 2004, the Supreme Court decided Blakely v. Washington which restricted judges from sentencing Defendants beyond the maximum of the presumptive sentencing range based on any fact, other than the fact of prior conviction, unless the jury found that fact to be true beyond a reasonable doubt.
These new cases created a new way of interpreting criminal statutes. Today Judges must distinquish between facts that are:
1. Sentencing factors (“Blakely-exempt facts” – sentencing factors that can be decided by the Judge)
2. Facts that are elements (“Blakely-compliant facts” – “aggravating” facts that must be decided by the jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt).
In analyzing the effect of Apprendi and Blakely on Colorado’s sentencing statutes, it is useful to separate out the three kinds of automatic increases that can increase a Defendant’s exposure to an increased sentencing range. They are:
I. Extraordinary Risk Crimes (which by definition have higher sentencing maximums),
2. Status Enhancements (such as when a Defendant is on parole and commits a new felony),
(HMS – and Blakely “facts”- which can be categorized as:)
3. All Other Forms Of Sentence Aggravation
Understanding The Impact Of Blakely – A Closer Analysis Of “Blakely” Facts
The Blakely rule is as follows:
if a specific fact is connected to the commission of the crime, the method of proving that fact requires Blakely compliance and thus must be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. :
The analysis of whether a fact that acts as a sentence enhancer or aggravator is a Blakely exempt or Blakely compliant fact turns on whether that fact is treated as a sentencing factor (which may be decided by the judge) or as an element of the crime (which must be decided by the jury).
An Example – Colorado Domestic Violence Cases And Blakely Issues
Colorado domestic violence cases pose two key issues relevant to a Blakely analysis:
The “dv tag” attaches when a jury finds that the crime with which they are charged is “an act of domestic violence.” A jury finding of an act of domestic violence requires an enhancement of the otherwise standard sentence for the underlying crime.
The punishment for a jury finding of an act of domestic violence crime is set forth in CRS § 18-6-801(l)(a), which requires that the sentence for having been convicted by an act of domestic violence must include
“a treatment program and a treatment evaluation . . . .”
This “counseling requirement” increases the punishment to the minimum sentence.
For a person to be convicted of an act of domestic violence, the jury must be convinced of the following under CRS Section 18-6-800.3, which reads:
An “act of domestic violence” occurs then by doing one of the following:
(1) actually committing or threatening to commit a violent act against someone with whom an intimate relationship has occurred; or
(2) committing some other crime under the coercion, control, etc. theory against someone with whom an intimate relationship has occurred.
The Blakely Rule Applied In Colorado Domestic Violence Jury Trials
To enforce the Blakely Rule – Judges, in Colorado Domestic Violence cases instruct the Jury using the following jury “interogatory:”
6-8:01. INTERROGATORY – TRIGGERING MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (HABITUAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER)
If you find the defendant not guilty of [insert name of misdemeanor offense(s)], you should disregard this instruction and sign the verdict form to indicate your not guilty verdict.
If, however, you find the defendant guilty of [insert name of misdemeanor offense(s)], you should sign the verdict form to indicate your finding of guilt, and answer the following verdict question on the verdict form:
Did the defendant commit an act of domestic violence? (Answer “Yes” or “No”)
The defendant committed an act of domestic violence only if:
1. the underlying factual basis of [insert name of misdemeanor offense(s)] included [an] act[s] of domestic violence.
The prosecution has the burden to prove the numbered condition beyond a reasonable doubt.
Other Blakely examples include:
A charge of Third-Degree assault and the victim is either a Peace Officer or a Mental Health Professional engaged in the performance of his duties, (sentence is increased to a sentence greater than the maximum for a class 1 misdemeanor, but not greater than twice the maximum). CRS §18-1.3-501.
A Third-degree Assault Against a Pregnant Woman mandates jail of a minimum of at least six months CRS § 18-1.3-501(6).
Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender – the Blakely element is the requirement that a jury decide that the prior conviction must still be proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. CRS § 18-3-415.5(5).
Summary And Conclusion – Colorado Criminal Law Guide – Enhanced Sentencing – When Can A Sentence Exceed The Maximum Sentence?
Colorado criminal defense lawyers must remain vigilant to properly identifying and protecting their clients’ constitutional rights by properly identifying Blakely facts that must be proven to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt BEFORE that client’s sentence can be enhanced.
You should be careful to make a responsible choice in selecting a Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer. We encourage you to “vet” our firm. Over the last 30 plus years – by focusing ONLY on Colorado criminal law – H. Michael has had the necessary time to commit to the task of constantly updating himself on nearly every area of criminal law, to include Colorado criminal law and procedure and trial and courtroom practice. H. Michael works hard to get his clients the best possible results in and out of the courtroom. He has written, and continues to write, extensively on Colorado criminal law and he hopes this article helps you in some small way – Colorado Criminal Law Guide – Enhanced Sentencing – When Can A Sentence Exceed The Maximum Sentence?
Colorado Criminal Law Guide - Enhanced Sentencing - When Can A Sentence Exceed The Maximum Sentence?
- Usually a person charged with a crime in Colorado can rely on what are known as the presumptive range of sentencing. This article will address the exceptions that can lead to - that is exceed much harsher sentences called enhanced or aggravated sentences.