Opinion ID: 1300993
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: ex post facto prohibitions

Text: The Constitutions of the United States and of South Carolina specifically prohibit the passage of ex post facto laws. U.S. Const. art. 1, § 10; S.C. Const. art. 1, § 4. For a law to fall within ex post facto prohibitions, two critical elements must be present. First, the law must be retrospective so as to apply to events occurring before its enactment. Second, the law must disadvantage the offender affected by it. State v. Huiett, 302 S.C. 169, 394 S.E.2d 486 (1990) [quoting Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 101 S.Ct. 960, 67 L.Ed.2d 17 (1981) ]. Appellants argue that the specific crime of trafficking in marijuana by conspiracy was not created until 1981, which was after the conspiracy alleged in Count Two came into existence. Therefore, they claim the count should have been quashed as it violated their ex post facto rights by punishing them for acts which were not prohibited at the time they were committed. We disagree. A conspiracy is a combination or agreement between two or more persons for the purpose of accomplishing a criminal or unlawful object, or achieving by criminal or unlawful means an object that is neither criminal nor unlawful. S.C.Code Ann. § 16-17-410 (1985); State v. Ameker 73 S.C. 330, 53 S.E. 484 (1906). The essence of a conspiracy is the agreement. State v. Dasher, 278 S.C. 454, 298 S.E.2d 215 (1982). It may be proven by the specific overt acts done in furtherance of the conspiracy but the crime is the agreement. Conspiracy is an ongoing or continuing crime. United States v. Sheffer, 896 F.2d 842 (4th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 968, 111 S.Ct. 432, 112 L.Ed.2d 416 (1990). A conspiracy which commenced prior to and without cessation continued beyond the effective date of a new statute does not violate the ex post facto prohibition. Id. The indictment alleged a conspiracy which continued through 1989. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in refusing to quash Count Two of the indictment. Appellants further point out the sentences for trafficking have been enhanced over the duration of this conspiracy. Therefore, they argue both Counts One and Two should have been quashed. We disagree for the reasons given above. Further, we point out an ex post facto sentence would not affect the validity of an indictment.