Opinion ID: 1575903
Heading Depth: 2
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Heading: The Two Sentencing Enhancements Based Upon the Same Two Prior Felony Convictions.

Text: Maxwell claims the court imposed an illegal sentence. We consider a sentence void if a statute does not authorize it. State v. Gordon, 732 N.W.2d 41, 43 (Iowa 2007). Therefore, we will examine the sentence to determine whether it complies with the relevant statutes. State v. Freeman, 705 N.W.2d 286, 287 (Iowa 2005). Consequently, our review is for correction of errors at law. Id. The jury found Maxwell guilty of possession of a controlled substance in violation of Iowa Code section 124.401(5). The legislature classifies a violation of section 124.401(5) as either a misdemeanor or felony based on a defendant's prior drug-related convictions. Iowa Code § 124.401(5). If the defendant has no prior drug-related convictions, a violation of section 124.401(5) is a serious misdemeanor. Id. If the defendant has one prior drug-related conviction, a violation of section 124.401(5) is an aggravated misdemeanor. Id. If the defendant has two prior drug-related convictions, a violation of section 124.401(5) is a class D felony. Id. Because Maxwell had two prior drug-related convictions, section 124.401(5) classified his violation as a class D felony. Maxwell does not complain that his conviction was for a class D felony. Under the legislature's sentencing scheme for felonies, a person convicted of a class D felony, who is not a habitual offender, shall be confined no more than five years, and in addition shall be fined at least $750 but no more than $7,500. Id. § 902.9(5). Under the same sentencing scheme, a habitual offender shall be confined no more than fifteen years. Id. § 902.9(3). A habitual offender includes any person convicted of a class D felony who has twice before been convicted of a felony. Id. § 902.8. Taking into consideration Maxwell's two prior felony convictions, the district court sentenced Maxwell to fifteen years as a habitual offender under section 902.9(3) rather than to five years as a class D felon under section 902.9(5). Maxwell complains his sentence is illegal because the same prior convictions cannot be used to classify his crime as a felony under section 124.401(5) and to sentence him as a habitual offender under section 902.9(3). He claims he should only be sentenced for five years as a class D felon. For Maxwell to prevail on this issue we must hold the legislature intended chapter 124 to be comprehensive and all encompassing when it comes to sentencing violators of chapter 124. We have rejected this argument in three prior decisions. See State v. Owens, 635 N.W.2d 478, 484-85 (Iowa 2001); State v. Sisk, 577 N.W.2d 414, 416 (Iowa 1998); State v. Draper, 457 N.W.2d 600, 603-04 (Iowa 1990). In those decisions we discussed the interplay between sections 902.9(3) and 124.411. Section 124.411 and its predecessor, section 204.411, permit the sentencing court to triple the term or fine it can impose for an offense committed under chapter 124 if the conviction is a second or subsequent conviction under chapter 124. Id. In holding the legislature did not intend chapter 124 to be comprehensive and all encompassing in regard to sentencing offenders under section 124.411, we determined the sentencing scheme requires the sentencing judge to look first at the violation under chapter 124 to determine the classification of the offense as either a felony or misdemeanor. Draper, 457 N.W.2d at 603. Next, the sentencing judge must look to chapter 902 to determine the appropriate sentence for the defendant's offense. Id. In reaching this conclusion we noted chapter 124 clearly was not intended to stand on its own because chapter 124 only defines the nature of the offense without determining what sentence the sentencing court can impose. Id. We also recognized section 902.9 specifically states it applies to the `sentencing of any person convicted of a felony' unless otherwise specified by another statute. Id. (citation omitted). Further indication the legislature intended to allow the same two prior felonies to classify a possession charge as a class D felony and to sentence a defendant as a habitual offender can be found in section 124.411. Normally section 124.411 permits the sentencing court to enhance the punishment if the conviction is a second or subsequent conviction under chapter 124. Iowa Code § 124.411(1). However, the legislature exempted this enhancement provision for possession offenses under section 124.401(5). Id. § 124.411(3). Had the legislature wanted to prohibit use of the same prior convictions to classify the crime as a felony under section 124.401(5) and to sentence a defendant as a habitual offender under section 902.9(3), it could have done so with specific language, just as it did in section 124.411(3). Finally, the legislature's purpose for enacting a recidivist statute, such as the habitual offender enhancement, is to deter and punish incorrigible offenders. State v. Conley, 222 N.W.2d 501, 503 (Iowa 1974). The legislature made a policy decision to punish a person's recidivism upon a third felony conviction by classifying those persons as habitual offenders. Under Maxwell's interpretation he needs to have four prior convictionstwo drug-related and two additional felony convictions of any kindto sentence him as a habitual offender for violating section 124.401(5). To not allow a court to sentence persons convicted of three drug-related felonies as habitual offenders, without specific language exempting them from the habitual offender statute, would severely undercut the legislative intent. Accordingly, the district court correctly used the same prior convictions for classifying Maxwell's possession charge as a felony under section 124.401(5) and sentencing him as a habitual offender under section 902.9(3). Therefore, Maxwell's sentence was legal.