Opinion ID: 1859512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Constitutionality of the Sentencing Guidelines

Text: For his fourth point for reversal, Mr. Harmon argues that the trial court erred in refusing to declare Act 532 of 1993, the Sentencing Guidelines Act, unconstitutional for violating the doctrine of separation of powers. Specifically, Mr. Harmon contends that in passing Act 532, codified as Ark.Code Ann. §§ 16-90-801 to -804 (Supp.1999), the General Assembly improperly delegated both legislative and judicial power to the Arkansas Sentencing Commission in violation of Article 4 of the Arkansas Constitution. We do not reach the merits of this argument, as Mr. Harmon has failed to show that he was prejudiced by the Act. It is well settled that before a person can challenge the constitutionality of a statute, he or she must demonstrate that the challenged statute had a prejudicial impact upon him. Nahlen v. State, 330 Ark. 1, 953 S.W.2d 877 (1997); Brooks v. State, 328 Ark. 32, 941 S.W.2d 409 (1997). Here, Mr. Harmon cannot show that the Act was applied to him at all. Indeed, he admits that the trial court stated that it would not consider the presentence report, and that it would impose sentence without regard for or reference to the sentencing guidelines. Mr. Harmon also does not dispute that the sentence imposed is within the range permitted by law for a Class B felony. See Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-401(a)(3)(Repl.1997). He contends, however, that the application of the guidelines to his case is obvious in that the sentence imposed by the trial court was the same as that established by the guidelines. The record reflects the trial court's ruling: THE COURT: I'm going to deny your motion and I'm not going to declare that act unconstitutional. It may well be, but let's let the other court out there make that decision rather than me. But in addition to that I'm not necessarily going along with the sentencing guidelines in my proposed sentence. I've considered the full range and as I understand it the penalty provisions under the sentencing guidelines are recommendations only anyway.    So it will be the judgment and sentence of the Court that he be taken by the Sheriff, delivered for the purpose of serving his term of ten years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, which is the same term as the co-defendant in this case got. And I did not follow the sentencing guidelines in that particular case. I departed from the sentencing guidelines, but I think this young man's sentence should be the same as the co-defendant's. (Emphasis added.) It is clear from this ruling that the trial court did not base his decision on the recommended sentence established in the sentencing guidelines; rather Mr. Harmon's sentence was based upon the trial court's determination that both co-defendants should receive the same punishment, ten years' imprisonment. Thus, because Mr. Harmon has failed to demonstrate that Act 532 had a prejudicial impact on him, we do not reach the merits of his constitutional challenge.