Opinion ID: 1160528
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jacqueline m. miller

Text: Jacqueline M. Miller, whose crime was committed on November 13, 1993, pled guilty to one count of forgery, K.S.A. 21-3710(a)(2), a level 8 nonperson felony. With a criminal history in category I, Miller's sentence was presumptive nonprison. On May 12, 1994, Miller was sentenced to 7 months' imprisonment and placed on probation for 24 months, pursuant to the sentencing procedures in K.S.A. 21-4704(e)(3). On May 10, 1995, Miller, before the district court for a probation violation hearing, stipulated to the alleged violations. The court revoked Miller's probation and immediately reinstated it under slightly modified conditions, moving her from one treatment facility to another. On July 24, 1995, a warrant was again filed by the State, alleging Miller violated the conditions of her probation. On August 3, 1995, at a hearing on the matter, Miller stipulated to the probation violations and Judge Dan Brooks revoked her probation, committing Miller to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections for serving her 7-month term of imprisonment, and concluded the proceeding. The journal entry of Miller's probation revocation was filed August 10, 1995. On August 9, 1995, Miller filed a motion for rehearing, seeking an order reinstating Miller's probation. On September 1, 1995, a hearing was held on this motion. The State objected to the hearing on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that the district court was, in effect, modifying Miller's sentence and that there was no provision in the KSGA for modification. Rejecting the State's arguments, the district court noted that it had received new information in the form of mental health things that it believed were significant enough to have [Miller's attorney] file a motion [for rehearing]. It was because of this new information that the district court canceled its August 3 order and reinstated Miller's probation. Miller's probation was again revoked on February 22, 1996, after the commencement of this appeal. She was sentenced to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections to serve the 7-month sentence. Based upon the amount of credit given on the sentence and statements made at oral argument, it would appear Ms. Miller has served her time and has been discharged. The State argues that when the court revoked Miller's probation and sentenced her to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections, the court had no jurisdiction to modify the commitment under KSGA. The basis for the argument is the same asserted in the Douglas case. Miller argues this was strictly a probation matter. She asserts that the KSGA has not changed the purpose and function of probation. Absent specific statutory changes to the statutes relative to probation, Miller argues that there is no indication that the legislature intended to remove the district court's discretionary powers concerning probation. Therefore, Miller concludes, the district court continues to have jurisdiction over probation proceedings and may revoke, reinstate, or reconsider probation decisions. She argues the State did not object when her probation was revoked in May 1995 and immediately reinstated and should not be permitted to complain when the same thing occurred in August 1995. This argument points out, however, the differences between the two proceedings. The journal entry on the May proceeding reflects the following occurred: 2.4 That on the 6th day of March, 1995, a warrant alleging the defendant violated the conditions of probation was filed. 2.5 That the defendant stipulates to violating conditions of probation as follows: Explain: As charged in the warrant. 2.6 That the Court does hereby revoke the defendant's probation and reinstates the probation under the same conditions with the following modified conditions: Remain in Women's Recovery Services until placement at Miracle House halfway house is available, then reside there and follow all rules and regulations. [2.7 omitted in the original.] 2.8 Other: If Women's Recovery Services can no longer keep defendant, she may live with stepmother. (Emphasis supplied.) The journal entry relative to the August 3, 1995, proceeding states the following occurred: 2.4 That on the 24th day of July, 1995, a warrant alleging the defendant violated the conditions of probation was filed. 2.5 That the defendant stipulates to violating conditions of probation as follows: Explain: Defendant admits violations as alleged in the warrant. 2.6 That the Court does hereby revoke the defendant's probation and orders that the defendant be committed to the Secretary of Corrections to begin serving the original sentence(s) imposed on the 12th day of May, 1994. For purposes of computing time as provided in K.S.A. 21-4614, the sentence(s) as imposed shall be considered to have begun on the 8th day of May, 1995, giving the defendant credit for 87 day(s) spent incarcerated. 2.7 It is hereby the order of the Court that the Sheriff or a designee transport the defendant to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections. 2.8 Other: The sentence imposed in this case shall run concurrently with Case Nos. 93TR13664 and 95TR1359. (Emphasis supplied.) The May 1995 hearing was, throughout, a probation proceeding. Miller's probation ended by revocation on August 3, 1995, and she was committed to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections. The question then becomes, as in Douglas' case, whether the sentencing court had jurisdiction to modify a lawful KSGA sentence committing Miller to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections. The district court could, on August 3, 1995, have revoked and reinstated probation. The district court could, on August 3, 1995, have taken the matter under advisement if it felt additional information was needed. It did not choose to do so. It revoked probation, committed Miller to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections, and concluded the proceedings. We have previously held in the Douglas appeal herein that where a sentencing court imposes a lawful KSGA sentence committing a defendant to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections, the court has no jurisdiction to modify the sentence. There is no statutory authority supporting the proposition that a different result should be reached if the defendant so committed had been revoked from probation prior to being committed. We find no merit in Miller's arguments. The district court lacked jurisdiction to reinstate Miller's probation on September 1, 1995, after committing her to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections on August 3, 1995. Inasmuch as Miller has served her sentence by virtue of a subsequent revocation proceeding, there is no reason to remand the case.