Opinion ID: 1124368
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Adjudication as a habitual criminal

Text: Based on the fact that Tanksley had three prior felonies, the district court adjudicated Tanksley a habitual criminal pursuant to NRS 207.010 and sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Tanksley was convicted of criminal mischief [2] in 1977, aggravated assault [3] in 1982, and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm in 1990. Tanksley appeals his status as a habitual criminal, contending that his prior three felonies are old and stale, and two of the prior convictions are non-violent. We have held, One facing adjudication as a habitual criminal ... is at the mercy of the court and is thus subject to the broadest kind of judicial discretion. Clark v. State, 109 Nev. 426, 428, 851 P.2d 426, 427 (1993) (emphasis added). The statute contains no express limitation on the judge's discretion. French v. State, 98 Nev. 235, 237, 645 P.2d 440, 441 (1982). The purpose of the habitual criminal statute is to increase sanctions for the recidivist and to discourage repeat offenders. Odoms v. State, 102 Nev. 27, 32, 714 P.2d 568, 571 (1986). Tanksley was convicted of three prior felonies and, therefore, fulfills the requirements of NRS 207.010. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its very broad discretion in determining that a habitual criminal adjudication would serve the purpose of discouraging this repeat offender. We have considered Tanksley's other issues on appeal and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we affirm Tanksley's judgment of conviction. SHEARING, C.J. and MAUPIN, J., concur.