Title: Austin v. State
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 697, 2010
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: June 20, 2011

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
JOHN C. AUSTIN, 
 
 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
No. 697, 2010 
 
Defendant Below,  
 
§ 
 
Appellant,  
 
 
§ 
Court Below—Superior Court  
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
of the State of Delaware in and 
 
v. 
 
 
 
 
§ 
for Sussex County 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
§ 
Cr. ID Nos. 0903023506  
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
 
 
0903023542 
Plaintiff Below, 
 
 
§ 
 
 
0904010801 
 
Appellee. 
 
 
 
§ 
 
 
Submitted: April 8, 2011 
Decided: 
June 20, 2011 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and BERGER, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 20th day of June 2011, upon consideration of the briefs on appeal 
and the Superior Court record, it appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
On August 5, 2009, the appellant, John C. Austin, pled guilty to 
Carjacking in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief and four counts of 
Burglary in the Third Degree.  Austin was sentenced to a total of twenty-
four years at Level V suspended after eighteen months for decreasing levels 
of supervision. 
(2) 
On September 22, 2010, while he was on conditional release, 
Austin was charged with violation of probation (VOP).  On September 24, 
2010, Austin was found guilty of VOP and was sentenced to twenty-two and 
2 
 
one-half years at Level V suspended upon successful completion of Level V 
Boot Camp for decreasing levels of supervision. 
(3) 
On October 22, 2010, Austin filed a letter with the Superior 
Court claiming that the Superior Court could not sentence him for VOP 
while he was on conditional release.  By order dated October 28, 2010, the 
Superior Court advised Austin that it had the authority to revoke his 
probation and impose sentence, and that Austin’s claim to the contrary was 
without merit.  This appeal followed. 
(4) 
Conditional release is served by a defendant who achieves early 
release from prison for merit and good behavior credits.1  Conditional 
release is considered a period of parole and is served prior to any 
probationary terms.2 
(5) 
Title 11, section 4352 of the Delaware Code provides that an 
offender on conditional release is subject to return to the Board of Parole on 
a charge of violating the conditions of release.3  Section 4352 does not divest 
the Superior Court of jurisdiction from proceeding on a VOP.4  The Superior 
Court was correct when it ruled that it had the authority to revoke Austin’s 
                                          
 
1 Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 4302(5) (2007). 
2 Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 4348. 
3 Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 4352.  
4 In re Cooper, 2010 WL 4009201 (Del. Supr.). 
3 
 
unexecuted probation and impose sentence on September 24, 2010 even 
though Austin was on conditional release.5 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the 
Superior Court is AFFIRMED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Randy J. Holland 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice 
 
                                          
 
5 See Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 4333(a) (providing that probation may be terminated at 
any time).