Opinion ID: 1347972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: conviction of two conspiracies arising from a single agreement to commit two distinct crimes

Text: Whether Mincey can be convicted of two conspiracies based upon a single agreement to commit two distinct crimes under K.S.A. 21-3107 is a question of law over which this court has unlimited review when the issue has been raised in the district court. The issue was not raised in Mincey's motion for a new trial. An issue not presented to the trial court will not be considered for the first time on appeal. State v. Ninci, 262 Kan. 21, Syl. ¶ 8, 936 P.2d 1364 (1997); State v. Alderson, 260 Kan. 445, Syl. ¶ 7, 922 P.2d 435 (1996). See K.S.A. 60-404; see also State v. Boyd, 257 Kan. 82, 89, 891 P.2d 358 (1995) (timely objection necessary to give the trial court an opportunity to correct alleged trial errors); State v. McDaniel, 255 Kan. 756, 765-66, 877 P.2d 961 (1994) (review of case law). We have recognized three exceptions to the general rule in cases where: (1) the newly asserted theory involves only a question of law arising on proved or admitted facts and which is finally determinative of the case; (2) questions are raised for the first time on appeal if consideration of the same is necessary to serve the ends of justice or to prevent denial of fundamental rights; and (3) the judgment of a trial court may be upheld on appeal although that court may have relied on the wrong ground or assigned a wrong reason for its decision. State v. Bell, 258 Kan. 123, 126, 899 P.2d 1000 (1995); see Pierce v. Board of County Commissioners, 200 Kan. 74, Syl. ¶ 3, 434 P.2d 858 (1967). Mincey argues that justice requires this court to hear her claim because she is serving consecutive terms for the two conspiracy convictions. Because the defendant's claim involves only a point of law and is determinative of some issues, and the State did not object to review of this issue, we will review the claim. Relying on Braverman v. United States, 317 U.S. 49, 87 L. Ed. 23, 63 S. Ct. 99 (1942), Mincey asserts that the State cannot charge separate crimes of conspiracy where there is one conspiracy to commit several crimes. The State argues Braverman does not apply because all of the counts of conspiracy in Braverman were based on violation of the same statute within the federal criminal code existing at the time. The State asserts that if the traditional multiplicity analysis is followed, Mincey's two conspiracy convictions stand. In Braverman, defendants were charged with seven counts of conspiracy to violate separate and distinct laws. It was undisputed that there was one agreement to commit several crimes. The Braverman Court stated: The one agreement cannot be taken to be several agreements and hence several conspiracies because it envisages the violation of several statutes rather than one. 317 U.S. at 53. The Court goes on to say: The single agreement is the prohibited conspiracy, and however diverse its objects it violates but a single statute [the conspiracy statute]. 317 U.S. at 54. There are no Kansas cases adopting the Braverman rule, nor are any Kansas cases cited where this issue arose. Mincey cites numerous cases from other states that have adopted Braverman. Braverman, like the conspiracy alleged against Mincey, has a single agreement to commit several crimes. Here, Mincey conspired to commit aggravated robbery and, if necessary, premeditated murder. Even though there was the possibility of two crimes occurring, there was only one criminal agreement entered into by the defendants. Criminal defendants can be held responsible for crimes committed in furtherance of the conspiracy that may not have been authorized by a particular coconspirator but were reasonably foreseeable. A single continuing conspiracy, however diverse its objects, cannot be broken down into component sub-agreements for the purpose of multiple punishments or multiple prosecutions. When separate conspiracies are alleged and both are founded on a general conspiracy statute, the relevant inquiry is whether there existed more than one agreement to perform an illegal act or acts. Mincey's conviction of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery is reversed.