Opinion ID: 1384669
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Background of the Individual

Text: Typical of most of the accused in the Campbell County grand jury session, Hennigan was 20 years of age, had ten years of formal education and an intermittent work record in the oil fields, and was single. He suffered from an alcoholic problem and was a controlled-substance user. Although not generally involved with the other controlled substances, he both used and sold some marijuana. The facts, undisputed in the record, reveal sales of 1/4 ounce January 30, 1985 for $30; one ounce February 1, 1985 for $105; 1/4 ounce February 4, 1985 for $25; and a further sale of one ounce February 21, 1985 for $100. Original contact had occurred between him and the undercover agent, Lauck, through introduction by a third party with whom Lauck had embarked on a course of substance purchase and who was later indicted. The trial was nondescript and occurred early in the course of events (see Lee v. State, supra), so that no member of the jury had previously served in the trial of any grand jury instituted criminal complaint. Considering the concurrent rather than the consecutive sentence, and in view of the alternative which had been given to Hennigan to go to the State Hospital for treatment with a period of probation, or undergo penitentiary confinement, with nothing noteworthy in the trial process absent discernible defense, except that if the case had been preceded by information, a preliminary hearing probably would have concluded any not-guilty plea defense, and disposition by plea would have expeditiously occurred. Since counsel in opening statement announced that Hennigan chose not to testify, no actual defense of substance was presented. The sentence of not less than 18 months nor more than 36 months on each of the four counts also included a fine of $750 on each charge, $25 surcharge on each count for the Victims' Compensation Fund, and to reimburse the State of Wyoming and the County of Campbell for the services of court appointed counsel which the Court determines to be $1000.00. [4] The credit for confinement of 216 days was given in the sentence dated February 4, 1986, and on December 5, 1986 the remaining unserved sentence was commuted by the Governor to time served. Appellant is presently released from confinement.