Opinion ID: 1444288
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: State v. Woodward

Text: We turn now to Woodward, an unpublished Court of Appeals decision. Woodward pled guilty to one count of possession of marijuana, a crime severity level 4 drug felony (95 CR 262). The same date, he pled guilty to one count of driving while suspended, a crime severity level 9 nonperson felony (95 CR 282). August 25, 1995, the district court sentenced Woodward in both cases. In the marijuana case the district court found Woodward fell into drug grid box 4-E, a presumptive prison box, and imposed 20 months' imprisonment. In the driving while suspended case, the district court found Woodward fell into a presumptive nonprison box 9-E; however, it imposed a prison sentence (10 months, to run consecutive to the 20-month term imposed on the marijuana charge) because Woodward committed the offense while he was out on bond in the marijuana case. The district court imposed the prison term despite the fact the offense carried a presumptive nonimprisonment sentence. Woodward appeals on two grounds. First, he argues that the district court erred by ordering prison time in a presumptive nonimprisonment case because of his on bond status. Second, relying on Christensen, he contends his was a multiple conviction case under K.S.A. 21-4720(b)(5) (he was sentenced in two different cases on the same date in the same court). According to Woodward, his correct criminal history score for his nonbase crime, driving while suspended, should have been I, not E. Addressing Woodward's first contention, the Court of Appeals held that the district court erred in sentencing Woodward to prison based solely on his being on bond. However, the Court of Appeals, relying on Christensen, 23 Kan. App.2d at 918, reasoned that the district court was required to impose imprisonment on the second sentence under K.S.A. 21-4720(b)(6). The Woodward panel also held the district court had discretion to order the prison terms to run consecutively or concurrently, presumably under K.S.A. 21-4608(a). Because the record was unclear as to whether the district court exercised its discretion, the Court of Appeals remanded for that consideration only. As to Woodward's second contention, the panel held that his was not a multiple conviction case under 21-4720(b), applying Roderick, 259 Kan. 107, Syl. ¶ 3.