Opinion ID: 835779
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Entry of Multiple Aggravated Murder Convictions for Each Victim

Text: As noted previously, defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder involving Ellis, ORS 163.095(1)(d) and (2)(d), and two counts of aggravated murder involving Abdill, ORS 163.095(1)(d) and (2)(d). In its judgment, the trial court entered two aggravated murder convictions for each victim without any objection from defendant. Citing this court's decision in State v. Barrett, 331 Or. 27, 10 P.3d 901 (2000), defendant assigns error to the entry of two aggravated murder convictions for each victim. Defendant acknowledges that, because he did not object to the imposition of multiple convictions for each victim, he did not preserve this assignment of error. He urges, however, that this court should consider this claim of error as an error apparent on the face of the record[.] ORAP 5.45(6); see State v. Reyes-Camarena, 330 Or. 431, 435, 7 P.3d 522 (2000) (explaining and applying plain error doctrine). For its part, the state concedes that the judgment is erroneous and further agrees that, although it is unpreserved, this court nevertheless should exercise its discretion to review and correct that error. In Barrett, this court determined that, although the state properly may charge a defendant with multiple counts of aggravated murder for a single victim based upon the existence of different aggravating circumstances under ORS 163.095, the aggravating circumstances listed under ORS 163.095 do not constitute separately punishable offenses for purposes of former ORS 161.062(1). [21] Id. at 36, 10 P.3d 901. Based upon that conclusion, this court held that, when a trial court convicts a defendant of multiple counts of aggravated murder for the death of a single victim based upon different aggravating circumstances, the trial court should enter only one judgment of conviction of aggravated murder for that victim, with the judgment enumerating each of the supporting aggravating factors. Id. at 37, 10 P.3d 901. In light of this court's holding in Barrett, we agree with defendant and the state that the judgment entered is erroneous. We therefore remand the case for entry of corrected judgment of conviction reflecting defendant's guilt on the charge of aggravated murder for each victim, with the judgment separately enumerating the aggravating factors upon which each conviction is based.