Opinion ID: 1557127
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Trial Court Imposed an Illegal Sentence.

Text: ¶ 15. On appeal, Parker argues that the trial court illegally imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction. This Court agrees with Parker on this assignment of error, and finds that trial court illegally sentenced Parker to life imprisonment without parole. The trial court should have sentenced Parker to no more than life imprisonment. ¶ 16. Mississippi Code Section 97-3-21 states: Every person who shall be convicted of murder shall be sentenced by the court to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary. Every person who shall be convicted of capital murder shall be sentenced (a) to death; (b) to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary without parole; or (c) to imprisonment for life in the State Penitentiary with eligibility for parole as provided in Section 47-7-(1)(f). Miss.Code. Ann. § 97-3-21 (Rev.2006) (emphasis added). Parker was indicted and convicted of deliberate-design murder pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 97-3-19. Section 97-3-21 permitted the trial court to impose a sentence of only imprisonment for life. Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-21 (Rev.2006). The trial court imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, which exceeded the statutory maximum. Therefore, we find that Parker should be resentenced in accordance with Mississippi Code Section 97-3-21 on his murder conviction only. ¶ 17. Additionally, we take this opportunity to address the argument put forth by the State that Parker's sentence was legal under Mississippi Code Section 47-7-3. Mississippi Code Section 47-7-3 provides, in pertinent part: No person shall be eligible for parole who is convicted or whose suspended sentence is revoked after June 30, 1995, except that an offender convicted of only nonviolent crimes after June 30, 1995, may be eligible for parole if the offender meets the requirements in subsection (1) and this paragraph. Miss.Code Ann. § 47-7-3(1)(g) (Rev. 2004). [2] The Court of Appeals has interpreted this statute to mean that Mississippi has abolished parole for crimes occurring after June 30, 1995, pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 47-7-3(1)(g) (Rev.1993 & Supp.1998)[.] Wade v. State, 724 So.2d 1007, 1007-08 (Miss.Ct.App.1998). ¶ 18. Section 47-7-3 applies only to the internal operating procedures of the Department of Corrections and the prisons and does not affect a judge's sentencing prerogative under the criminal statutes. Thus, the Court of Appeals' interpretation of Section 47-7-3 is incorrect because the statute does not abolish parole. See Wade, 724 So.2d at 1007-08.