Opinion ID: 2520792
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: [¶ 3] Mr. Lacey's current appeal is his second appearance before this Court. In 1990, we affirmed Mr. Lacey's conviction on one count of kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault and battery. The relevant facts which resulted in his conviction are set out in Lacey v. State, 803 P.2d 1364 (Wyo.1990). At the trial, Appellant's wife, Diane, testified to the occurrence of the following events. On September 10, 1988, Appellant finished working and returned to the apartment where he and Diane lived. Diane was approximately six months pregnant. Appellant had consumed some alcohol, and he continued to drink throughout the evening. Between nine and ten o'clock, the couple prepared to go to bed, and Diane asked Appellant if she could read a book. Appellant got angry because he did not approve of the book's subject matter and tore the book into pieces. Diane became frightened and went into the bathroom to change clothes so she could leave. Appellant went into a fury, kicked the bathroom door open, and began to strike Diane. Appellant pushed Diane into the bathtub, continued to beat her, pulled her hair, and told her that she and the baby she was carrying had to die. Although Diane did not believe she would survive her husband's attack, the physical violence ceased after a period of thirty to forty-five minutes. At that point, Appellant became apologetic, and the couple cleaned up Diane's hair and blood. Despite the fact that Appellant's rage had subsided, he told Diane that she would have to die before the night was over. Diane asked if she could leave the apartment, but Appellant said, No. After the bathroom was cleaned, Appellant retrieved several cans of beer and a knife, and the couple went to bed. Appellant lay beside Diane, holding the knife, and told her to go to sleep. The next day, Appellant continued to exercise dominion over Diane by accompanying her everywhere she went and by carrying the knife or keeping it in close proximity. Appellant also poked at Diane with the knife, held it to her throat, and continued to verbally threaten her. The couple had several visitors during the day, but Diane was too afraid of Appellant to say or do anything which would alert anyone of her peril. Diane and Appellant left the apartment so Appellant could speak with a co-worker, but, once again, Diane was too scared to seek help. Finally, Diane's sister stopped by the apartment, and Diane told her that she wanted to get out. Diane's sister notified her father of Diane's plight, and he went to the apartment and liberated Diane without incident. Lacey, 803 P.2d at 1366. [¶ 4] On the basis of these facts, Mr. Lacey was charged with and convicted of the kidnapping and aggravated assault charges. Id. The district court sentenced him to not less than twenty nor more than twenty-five years on the kidnapping conviction, not less than ten nor more than fifteen years on the first aggravated assault and battery conviction, and not less than ten nor more than twelve years on the second aggravated assault and battery conviction. The kidnapping sentence and the first aggravated assault and battery sentence were to be served concurrently, with the final aggravated assault and battery sentence to be served consecutive to the first two sentences. The jury found him to be a habitual criminal and the aggravated assault and battery sentences were enhanced under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-10-201 (Lexis-Nexis 2003). [¶ 5] On direct appeal to this Court, Mr. Lacey questioned the propriety of his sentence enhancement. He contended his status as a habitual criminal should be used to enhance only one of his sentences. This Court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it enhanced two sentences for two convictions arising out of a single occurrence. Lacey, 803 P.2d at 1371. [¶ 6] In 2002, in his motion to correct an illegal sentence, Mr. Lacey argued the imposed penalties for the aggravated assault and battery convictions exceeded the maximum sentences prescribed by statute. He also argued all three sentences should run concurrently with each other because of lack of evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, and other irregularities at trial. The district court denied Mr. Lacey's motion, holding that no showing has been made pursuant to Rule 35(a) of the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure to justify or require a modification of the Defendant's sentences. This appeal followed.