Opinion ID: 1139806
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on application for rehearing by defendant clarence randolph

Text: Defendant Clarence Randolph along with his brother Harold was charged by bill of information with simple burglary in violation of La.R.S. 14:62. After trial by jury on November 6, 1979, they were both found guilty as charged. Thereafter, the state filed an information against Clarence Randolph under the multiple offender provision of La.R.S. 15:529.1. That same day November 16, 1979, both defendants Harold and Clarence Randolph filed motions for a new trial. On January 30,1980, both defendants came before the trial judge for sentencing. The court sentenced Clarence Randolph as a second offender to twenty-four (24) years' imprisonment, at hard labor and his brother Harold to twelve (12) years' imprisonment, also at hard labor. Both defendants appealed their convictions and sentences to this Court, requesting a review of the record for errors patent. We affirmed the conviction and sentence of Clarence Randolph. However we noted in the opinion that because the minutes did not reflect that the trial court ruled on Harold Randolph's application for a new trial before the sentencing hearing on January 30, 1980, we vacated the sentence of Harold Randolph and remanded his case to the trial court for consideration of the new trial motion, with reservation, in the event of an unfavorable ruling, of his right to appeal once more to this Court. In this application for rehearing, Clarence Randolph argues that his sentence likewise should have been vacated and we agree. Clarence as well as Harold filed a motion for a new trial on November 16, 1979 and the minutes of the trial court do not reflect that the court ruled on Clarence Randolph's application for a new trial before the January 30, 1980 sentencing hearing just as was the case as regards to Harold. La.C.Cr.P. art. 853 provides that [a] motion for a new trial must be filed and disposed of before sentence. (emphasis supplied) Therefore, La.C.Cr.P. art. 853 requires that the trial judge consider the merits of an application for a new trial before imposing sentence on a defendant, if necessary, and before consigning him to direct review of his conviction in this Court. Therefore defendant's application for rehearing is granted. We vacate our prior judgment as it concerns Clarence Randolph. His case just as we did on original hearing as regards to his brother Harold is remanded to the trial court for a ruling on the motion for a new trial and resentencing, if necessary. In the event of an unfavorable ruling on the motion and resentencing, we reserve to defendant his right to appeal his conviction and his sentence once more to this Court. AFFIRMANCE OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OF CLARENCE RANDOLPH VACATED; SENTENCE OF CLARENCE RANDOLPH VACATED AND CASE REMANDED.