Opinion ID: 2182667
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Issue 4 Habitual Offender Sentencing

Text: Defendant finally alleges error in the court's failure to reduce the thirty year enhancement for the habitual offender determination as provided in Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8(e). The original habitual offender charge was filed on March 13, 1985. The first trial on the robbery charge resulted in a mistrial on April 16, 1985. October 21, 1985, on retrial defendant was convicted and found to be an habitual offender. He was sentenced on November 14, 1985. Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8 was amended with an effective date of September 19, 1985. The amendment included subsection (e) which provides in pertinent part: The court shall sentence a person found to be an habitual criminal to an additional fixed term of thirty (30) years imprisonment to be added to the term of imprisonment imposed under section 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 ... If at least one (1) of the offenses relied upon to establish that the person has accumulated two (2) prior unrelated felonies is a class D felony, then the court may subtract up to ten (10) years from the additional fixed term of thirty (30) years... . [emphasis added] Defendant contends he should be subject to the provisions under amended Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8 since his sentencing occurred after the effective date for the statute and since one of the prior felony convictions relied upon appears to fit within the legislative intent concerning moderation of the penalty of a lesser offense. He claims that the theft conviction would arguably be considered a class D felony warranting a reduction in the thirty year enhancement. We disagree. The statutory language is clearly permissive. Reduction in sentence is left to the discretion of the trial court. Moreover, we note that Ind. Code § 35-50-2-8, as sought to be applied by the defendant, was expressly limited by the following provision of Pub.Law 328-1985, Section 3: (a) The addition of IC XX-XX-X-X.1 and the amendment of IC XX-XX-X-X by this act do not affect any: (1) rights or liabilities accrued; (2) penalties incurred; or (3) proceedings begun; before September 1, 1985. The rights, liabilities, and proceedings are continued and punishments, penalties, or forfeitures shall be imposed and enforced under IC XX-XX-X-X as if this act had not been enacted. (b) If all of the felonies that are relied upon for sentencing a person as an habitual offender under IC XX-XX-X-X are felonies that were committed before September 1, 1985, the felonies shall be prosecuted and remain punishable under IC XX-XX-X-X as if this act had not been enacted. We find no error in the sentencing. Judgment affirmed. SHEPARD, C.J., and DeBRULER, GIVAN and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.