Opinion ID: 1725524
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: whether the court erred in imposing an illegal sentence upon appellant.

Text: ¶ 71. Sewell contends that a person convicted and sentenced pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 23-15-753 shall be sentenced for either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon the sentence actually imposed. That section provides maximum sentences of not more than one year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine, or not more than five years in the penitentiary. Miss. Code. Ann. § 23-15-753 (1990). On August 2, 1993, the court sentenced Sewell on Count I to five years and a $1,000 fine and on Count II to five years and $1,000 fine with two years suspended and Count II to run consecutively with Count I, with the total sentence under Counts I and II being eight years and $2,000 in fines. The sentences for Counts III through VIII were five years on each count, to run concurrently with Counts I and II. ¶ 72. The core of Sewell's argument is that the statute does not allow for the imposition of a fine and a term of years in the penitentiary on Counts I and II and contends that such is an illegal sentence requiring reversal. Sewell's argument is well taken. The judge did not have the statutory authority to both sentence her to a term of years in the penitentiary and to fine her on Counts I and II. This Court has no way to discern which sentence the trial judge intended. Sewell then is entitled to relief, as no court may adjudge and sentence a defendant beyond its statutory authority to do so. See Luckett v. State, 582 So.2d 428, 430 (Miss.1991) (stating that a sentence beyond the statutory prescription is a fundamental violation of due process); Lanier v. State, 635 So.2d 813, 816 (Miss.1994) (noting that a sentence beyond the statutory prescription is unenforceable). Therefore, we reverse Sewell's sentence and remand her cause to the lower court for re-sentencing.