Opinion ID: 1196732
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: adjudication as an habitual criminal

Text: Appellant asserts the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that each prior conviction used to enhance a sentence did not arise out of the same act or occurrence. Under NRS 207.010, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) the identity of the person; and (2) the conviction of prior felonies. Howard v. State, 83 Nev. 53, 422 P.2d 548 (1967); Hollander v. State, 82 Nev. 345, 418 P.2d 802 (1966). Nothing in the record suggests appellant was improperly adjudged an habitual criminal. Furthermore, in accord with the majority rule, this state requires that all prior convictions used to enhance a sentence must have preceded the primary offense. NRS 207.010. However, our statute does not require that the convictions and commissions of prior offenses occur in any particular sequence. Appellant also suggests that the same prior convictions may not be used twice to adjudicate one as an habitual criminal claiming such use constitutes double jeopardy. NRS 207.010 however does not recharge a defendant with a substantive crime; it merely allows an averment of a fact that goes to punishment. Hollander v. State, supra . Use of the same convictions does not violate the legislative intent behind NRS 207.010. See Wingo v. Ringo, 408 S.W.2d 469 (Ky. 1966).