Opinion ID: 1224804
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: consecutive sentence for unlawful possession of firearm

Text: When imposing Jackson's sentence, the district court stated the following at Jackson's sentencing hearing: Count 4, the Court will sentence to 43 months consecutive. Count 5, 9 months consecutive. Count 6, 9 months, and Counts 7 and 8, the Court would sentence the defendant to six months each in the county jail. I will run those two concurrent with the sentence in the burglary case and Counts one through six here. The district court did not specify whether the sentence in count 6 (unlawful possession of firearm) was to be served consecutive to or concurrent with the other sentences imposed. The subsequent journal entry of sentencing indicates that the sentence in count 6 was to be served consecutive to the sentences imposed in Counts 1-5. Jackson argues that K.S.A. 1993 Supp. 21-4608(a) requires that his sentence for Count 6 be served concurrent with the other convictions. The State conceded this issue in oral argument. K.S.A. 1993 Supp. 21-4608(a) provides: (a) When separate sentences of imprisonment for different crimes are imposed on a defendant on the same date, including sentences for crimes for which suspended sentences, probation or assignment to a community correctional services program have been revoked, such sentences shall run concurrently or consecutively as the court directs. Whenever the record is silent as to the manner in which two or more sentences imposed at the same time shall be served, they shall be served concurrently.... The fact that the journal entry of sentencing indicates that the sentence in count 6 was imposed consecutively is not the deciding factor. The court's judgment and sentence in a criminal case do not derive their effectiveness from the journal entry. Once a sentence is imposed, the district court is powerless to vacate that sentence and impose a harsher sentence. State v. Royse, 252 Kan. 394, Syl. ¶¶ 3, 4, 845 P.2d 44 (1993). The judgment in a criminal case, whether it imposes a fine, grants probation, suspends the imposition of sentence, or imposes any combination of those alternatives, is effective upon its pronouncement from the bench. State v. Hunt, 257 Kan. 388, Syl. ¶ 5, 894 P.2d 178 (1995). The sentence on count 6 was effective when pronounced. Because the record of the sentencing hearing is silent as to whether the sentence should run concurrently or consecutively, the sentence must be served concurrent with the other sentences.