Opinion ID: 1834364
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prior Conviction Records Fulfill the Requirements of the Habitual Offender Statute

Text: At the sentencing hearing the prosecuting attorney represented to the trial court that Handley had been indicted under, and they were traveling under, § 99-19-83. That section reads: Every person convicted in this state of a felony who shall have been convicted twice previously of any felony or federal crime upon charges separately brought and arising out of separate incidents at different times and who shall have been sentenced to and served separate terms of one (1) year or more in any state and/or federal penal institution, whether in this state or elsewhere, and where any one (1) of such felonies shall have been a crime of violence shall be sentenced to life imprisonment, and such sentence shall not be reduced or suspended nor shall such person be eligible for parole or probation. The trial court made the following findings regarding the prior convictions: (1) Complicity in aggravated robbery. (State's Exhibit # 1) The exhibit was accepted into evidence; aggravated robbery is a crime of violence; it was not evident from the record that Handley had served one (1) year. (2) Burglary. (State's Exhibit # 2) The exhibit was accepted into evidence; it was not evident from the record that Handley had served one (1) year. (3) Manslaughter. (State's Exhibit # 3) The exhibit was accepted into evidence only insofar as it related to the conviction; the sentence served was not admitted because the cause number on the certificate did not correspond with the cause number on the indictment. (4) Assault with intent to rob. (State's Exhibit # 4) The exhibit (a computer printout) was admitted into evidence but given no weight because the printout could not be deciphered. Based on the preceding findings, the trial court found that the evidence of Handley's prior convictions introduced by the State did not meet the requirements of § 99-19-83. However, the trial court found the evidence presented met the requirements of § 99-19-81 and proceeded to sentence Handley accordingly. The validity of this procedure is discussed in the next assignment of error. Section 99-19-81 reads: Every person convicted in this state of a felony who shall have been convicted twice previously of any felony or federal crime upon charges separately brought and arising out of separate incidents at different times and who shall have been sentenced to separate terms of one (1) year or more in any state and/or federal penal institution, whether in this state or elsewhere, shall be sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for such felony, and such sentence shall not be reduced or suspended nor shall such person be eligible for parole or probation.