Opinion ID: 2592797
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the use of a conviction for both the purposes of the progressive sentencing scheme under k.s.a. 21-3710(b) and the calculation of a defendant's criminal history violate k.s.a. 21-4710(d)(11)?

Text: Based upon our resolution above, there existed only the three prior forgery convictions of the defendant in case No. 07 CR 319 that the court could use to sentence her for a third conviction under Count 1 in case No. 07 CR 404 for a third forgery conviction under the provisions of K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(4). The record clearly establishes that the trial court did utilize two of those three prior forgery convictions for the purpose of establishing that defendant's plea to Count 1 resulted in a third conviction under K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(4). The question then arises whether those two prior forgery convictions enhance the penalty for the defendant's conviction of Count 1 under K.S.A. 21-4710(d)(11) and therefore could not be included in defendant's criminal history. This case calls on us to interpret two statutes: K.S.A. 21-3710(b) and K.S.A. 21-4710(d)(11). K.S.A. 21-3710 defines the crime of forgery under Kansas law. K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(1) states that [f]orgery is a severity level 8, nonperson felony. K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(2) through (b)(5) define a progressive sentencing scheme based on the number of forgery convictions that a particular person may have incurred. Those sections provide: (2) On a first conviction of a violation of this section, in addition to any other sentence imposed, a person shall be fined the lesser of the amount of the forged instrument or $500. (3) On a second conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be required to serve at least 30 days' imprisonment as a condition of probation, and fined the lesser of the amount of the forged instrument or $1,000. (4) On a third or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be required to serve at least 45 days' imprisonment as a condition of probation, and fined the lesser of the amount of the forged instrument or $2,500. (5) The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the mandatory sentence as provided herein. K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(2)-(5). Arnett was sentenced under K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(4), which requires as a condition of probation a minimum of 45 days in prison and a fine in the lesser amount of either the forged instrument or $2,500. K.S.A. 21-4710, which defines a defendant's criminal history for purposes of the Kansas sentencing grid, provides in relevant part: Prior convictions of any crime shall not be counted in determining the criminal history category if they enhance the severity level or applicable penalties . . . . Except as otherwise provided, all other prior convictions will be considered and scored. (Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 21-4710(d)(11). K.S.A. 21-4710(a) defines prior convictions as any conviction, other than another count in the current case which was brought in the same information or complaint or which was joined for trial with other counts in the current case pursuant to K.S.A. 22-3203 and amendments thereto, which occurred prior to sentencing in the current case regardless of whether the offense that led to the prior conviction occurred before or after the current offense or the conviction in the current case. See State v. Ruiz-Reyes, 285 Kan. 650, 655-56, 175 P.3d 849 (2008) (discussing this provision and noting that it explicitly states that previous convictions finalized after a crime is committed but before sentencing for that crime may be used to determine criminal history). It is clear from these provisions that in both of the cases now subject to review, the three forgery convictions obtained in each of those cases cannot be used to calculate criminal history since they all constitute other count[s] in the current case . . . brought in the same information or complaint. K.S.A. 21-4710(a). Likewise, K.S.A. 21-3710(b)(1) states that no matter how many forgeries a person commits, the crime of forgery is always a severity level 8 nonperson felony. Thus, the question before us today is whether the progressive sentencing scheme in K.S.A. 21-3710(b) enhances the applicable penalties for the underlying forgery offense. K.S.A. 21-4710(d)(11).