Opinion ID: 1369114
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: State v. Hurley

Text: Arizona trial courts must impose a life sentence without possibility of release for twenty-five years on any person who is within one of the five classifications enumerated in A.R.S. § 13-604.02(A) and who commits a dangerous nature felony. The five classifications are persons on probation, parole, work furlough, or release or escape from confinement. [2] In this case, Powers's sentences have been significantly enhanced as a result of the finding that he was an escapee when he committed the offenses. [3] We recently considered whether the release status finding of § 13-604.02(A) is an element of a separate offense or crime to be determined beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury, or is merely a sentencing factor that may be determined by the trial court without a jury. State v. Hurley, 154 Ariz. 124, 741 P.2d 257 (1987); see also McMillan v. Pennsylvania, 477 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 2411, 91 L.Ed.2d 67 (1986). We concluded that although release status determination involves a factual finding, the status is not an element of the crime, but only a sentence enhancer. Therefore, we held that release status need not be found by a jury nor found beyond a reasonable doubt. We reached this conclusion for several reasons. First, release status has never been a crime or an element of any crime; the elements necessary to constitute the charged crime already have been found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, release status has been a traditional sentencing consideration to be evaluated by the court. Hurley, 154 Ariz. at 130, 741 P.2d at 263. Second, to find release status, the court need not evaluate conduct or mens rea involved in the prohibited transaction. Id. Third, release status is a determination that is applied across the board to enhance the sentences of those convicted of almost any crime defined in the criminal code. Id. at 130, 741 P.2d at 263. We believe, however, that when applied to the escape status determination, the Hurley analysis leads to a different result.