Opinion ID: 1784802
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: nebraska case law applying pearce presumption

Text: [10] In a habitual criminal proceeding, Pearce requires reversal of an increase in the aggregate maximum sentence after a successful appeal of an unlawful sentence. [17] To avoid reversal, the district court must justify such an increase with new evidence at the resentencing hearing about the offense or the defendant. [18] We have also held that an increase in the aggregate minimum term on remand violated Pearce. In State v. McArthur, [19] the defendant pleaded guilty to two Class IV felony offenses and one Class III felony offense. The district court sentenced him to three consecutive terms of imprisonment: 1 to 5 years for each Class IV felony and 6 to 20 years for the Class III felony. On appeal, we vacated the judgment and sentences because the court failed to advise the defendant that one of his sentences must be served consecutively. We remanded for further proceedings. On remand, the State dismissed one of the Class IV charges. For the two remaining offenses, the district court increased the terms of the consecutive sentences: 20 months to 5 years for the remaining Class IV felony and 80 months to 20 years for the Class III felony. In his second appeal, the defendant assigned as error the court's increase in the minimum sentences for the two remaining felonies. The aggregate maximum sentence for the two offenses was the same. We stated that the sentencing court had increased the defendant's combined minimum sentence for the two offenses by 16 months. Applying Pearce, we concluded that the record is devoid of any explanation for the increase in the minimum sentences. Therefore, the increased minimum sentences cannot withstand constitutional due process scrutiny and must be modified. [20] We believe McArthur is distinguishable. The increase in the defendant's aggregate minimum sentence would have lengthened the time he served in prison before being eligible for parole. That is not so here.