Opinion ID: 1266769
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Out-of-State Convictions as Predicate Offenses

Text: Appellant seeks a reversal of his conviction for third offense domestic violence, contending that only such offenses which have resulted in convictions in this state can serve as the necessary prior convictions under the West Virginia statute. To support his position, Appellant looks to the language of West Virginia Code § 61-2-28(c), which defines an offense of domestic assault and/or battery by cross-referencing the definitions for the criminal offenses of assault and battery, as stated in West Virginia Code § 61-2-9 (1978) (Repl. Vol.2000). Since the statute expressly refers to the West Virginia definitions of assault and/or battery, Appellant reasons that only offenses committed in West Virginia can serve as predicate offenses within the statutory contemplation of West Virginia Code § 61-2-28(c). In addition, Appellant asserts that if the Legislature had intended that outof-state domestic violence convictions could serve as the predicate offenses for a third offense conviction, West Virginia Code § 61-2-28(c) would have been written in terms similar to West Virginia Code § 17C-5-2( l )(3) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2000), which expressly provides for the use of out-of-state convictions as the predicate offenses for third offense DUI convictions. In response to Appellant's contentions, the State argues that the language of West Virginia Code § 61-2-28(c) suggests legislative approval for using out-of-state convictions as predicate offenses. Citing the inclusion of the terms as defined in reference to the offenses of domestic assault and battery, the State suggests that this statutory language indicates an inclusive, rather than an exclusive, approach to the use of outof-state convictions. According to the State, the key to whether an out-of-state offense can qualify as a predicate offense is determined by whether the foreign conviction was for an offense that substantially parallels the elements of offenses under West Virginia Code § 61-2-28. Furthermore, the State notes that nothing in the statutory scheme suggests that our Legislature intended that the enhanced penalties set forth in West Virginia Code § 61-2-28(c) would apply only when the predicate domestic violence offenses occurred within this state's boundaries. [5] The State suggests that the exact opposite is true and cites to the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act, West Virginia Code §§ 48-2A-1 to -14 (1998) (Repl.Vol. 1999), and its clear adoption of legislative policy aimed at both preventing and punishing domestic violence. [6] See W.Va.Code § 48-2A-1. The State contends that the objectives of the Domestic Violence Act should be examined as an aid to our determination of whether out-of-state convictions can be used to enhance punishment for a domestic violence offense under West Virginia Code § 61-2-28. [7] In stating the purpose of the Domestic Violence Act, the Legislature has declared the following: (1) No one should be a victim of domestic or family violence. All people have a right to be safe in their homes and in their families; (2) Children are often physically assaulted or witness violence against one of their parents or other family or household members, violence which too often ultimately results in death. These children may suffer deep and lasting emotional harm from victimization and from exposure to domestic or family violence; (3) Domestic or family violence is a major health and law-enforcement problem in this state with enormous costs to the state in both dollars and human lives. It affects people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and all socioeconomic classes; and (4) Domestic or family violence can be deterred, prevented or reduced by legal intervention that treats this problem with the seriousness that it deserves. W.Va.Code § 48-2A-1(a). The State convincingly posits that nothing in the objectives articulated in West Virginia Code § 48-2A-1, or in the language of West Virginia Code § 61-2-28, evinces a legislative concern to limit the scope of this state's policy against domestic violence to those offenses that occur in this state. Given the legislative decision to treat repeat domestic offenders more severely, combined with the legislative recognition of the seriousness of domestic violence, we agree with the State's contention that permitting out-of-state domestic violence offenses to serve as predicate offenses for enhancement purposes is consistent with the Legislature's articulated policy of preventing and deterring domestic violence. See West Virginia Code § 48-2A-1. [8] Upon a careful examination of the Domestic Violence Act in conjunction with West Virginia Code § 61-2-28, we are convinced that the Legislature intended to punish second or third instances of domestic violence more severely, regardless of where the earlier conduct occurred. To do otherwise, would invite repeat domestic offenders to move to this state to take advantage of the proverbial clean slate, thereby enabling them to continue committing acts of domestic violence in this state similar to acts they previously committed elsewhere without realizing the legislatively-intended effects of enhanced punishment for repeat offenders. Accordingly, we hold that prior domestic violence convictions in other states may be used to enhance the penalty for subsequent domestic violence convictions under West Virginia Code § 61-2-28.