Opinion ID: 2547964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues likely to recur on remand

Text: Appellant alleges that the trial court erred when it imposed a sentence of thirty years' imprisonment, which he argues exceeds the maximum aggregate allowable by Kentucky law. Specifically, Appellant contends that the maximum allowable sentence under KRS 532.110(1)(c) is twenty years' imprisonment. We agree that the longest sentence of imprisonment that Appellant could have received is twenty years. KRS 532.110(1)(c) provides: When multiple sentences of imprisonment are imposed on a defendant for more than one (1) crime, ... the multiple sentences shall run concurrently or consecutively as the court shall determine at the time of sentence, except that [t]he aggregate of consecutive indeterminate terms shall not exceed in maximum length the longest extended term which would be authorized by KRS 532.080 for the highest class of crime for which any of the sentences is imposed.... KRS 532.080(6)(b) provides, in relevant part, that a first-degree PFO who presently stands convicted of a Class C or D felony shall be sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment, the maximum of which shall not be less than ten (10) years nor more than twenty (20) years. And a second-degree PFO shall be sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment pursuant to the sentencing provisions of KRS 532.060(2) for the next highest degree than the offense for which convicted. KRS 532.080(5). Because the highest degree of offense that Appellant was convicted of was a Class C felony, the next highest degree of offense is a Class B felony. Under KRS 532.060(2), a conviction of a Class B felony carries a maximum prison sentence of not less than ten (10) years nor more than twenty (20) years. Accordingly, as to Count 1, under KRS 532.080(5) and KRS 532.060(2), Appellant could have been sentenced to ten to twenty years' imprisonment. [17] As to Count 2, under KRS 532.080(6)(b), Appellant could have been sentenced to ten to twenty years' imprisonment. Thus, the maximum allowable sentence permissible under KRS 532.110(1)(c) is twenty years. A thirty-year sentence was therefore erroneous. This conclusion is clearly supported by the plain language of the statute, its commentary, and our case law. KRS 532.110(1)(c) limits consecutive sentences to the longest extended term which would be authorized by KRS 532.080 for the highest class of crime for which any of the sentences is imposedhere, twenty years for the Class C felony for which Appellant was found guilty in Count 2, enhanced by his first-degree PFO conviction pursuant to KRS 532.080(6)(b). [18] Moreover, the Commentary to KRS 532.110 supports our conclusion. The third exception, provided in subsection (1)(c), places an upper limit on the maximum term of imprisonment that can be imposed through consecutive indeterminate terms. This subsection establishes a maximum for accumulated indeterminate terms that is equivalent to the maximum term that can be imposed on a persistent felony offender under KRS 532.080. For example, if an offender stands convicted of three offenses,... if the greatest of his offenses is a Class C felony, his consecutive sentences when accumulated could equal an indeterminate term having a maximum of no more than twenty years. This is precisely the situation presented by this case. We discussed this issue squarely in Sanderson v. Commonwealth, 291 S.W.3d 610 (Ky.2009) and came to the same conclusion. In that case, the defendant was convicted of two Class C felonies and three Class D felonies, and was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison. Although we reversed his convictions and remanded for a new trial, we stated that if he is convicted of the same felonies after another trial, his maximum sentence cannot exceed twenty years' imprisonment. [19] Because the plain language of the statute, its commentary, and our case law all prohibit the imposition of a sentence of more than twenty years' imprisonment for the crimes for which Appellant was convicted, on remand he cannot be sentenced to more than twenty years in prison. [20]
Appellant's final argument is that he should be permitted to invoke KRS 218A.500 as amended to eliminate second or subsequent offender enhancement for possession of drug paraphernalia. KRS 218A.500 is the statutory provision that deals with the definitions, offenses, and penalties associated with drug paraphernalia. As amended, subsection (5) of that statute provides that [a]ny person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The effective date for this statute as amended was April 13, 2010. [21] The trial court instructed the jury to set a sentence for the possession of drug paraphernalia charge in accordance with the laws which were in effect at the time he committed his crime and at the time of his trial. At those times, possession of drug paraphernalia, second or subsequent offense, was a Class D felony, which carried a penalty of one to five years in prison. Citing KRS 446.110, [22] Appellant seeks to invoke KRS 218A.500 as amended, and be sentenced as a Class A misdemeanant. At common law, when the legislature modified or repealed a statute, the courts no longer had the authority to enter any judgment relying upon the prior law. KRS 446.110 modifies this common law rule so that, unless the General Assembly specifically designates otherwise, offenses committed against the statute before its repeal, may thereafter be prosecuted, and the penalties incurred may be enforced. Lawson v. Commonwealth, 53 S.W.3d 534, 550 (Ky.2001). Thus, the trial court did not err in instructing the jury on the pre-amended possession of drug paraphernalia penalties. However, KRS 446.110 also provides an exception: If any penalty, forfeiture or punishment is mitigated by any provision of [a] new law, such provision may, by the consent of the party affected, be applied to any judgment pronounced after the new law takes effect. Accordingly, KRS 446.110 requires that the penalty, forfeiture, or punishment be mitigated by a provision of the new law. The maximum penalty for a Class D felony is five years' imprisonment. KRS 532.060(d). The maximum penalty for a Class A misdemeanor is one year's imprisonment. KRS 532.090(2). Clearly, the asamended version of KRS 218A.500 mitigates the penalty or punishment for a conviction of possession of drug paraphernalia. Moreover, judgment was pronounced after the new law [took] effect. KRS 446.110. Appellant's trial was in March 2010; the amendment to the drug paraphernalia statute took effect on April 13, 2010; and the judgment of sentence (i.e., the final, appealable judgment) occurred on September 8, 2010. [23] Although Appellant did not bring the asamended version of the drug paraphernalia statute to the attention of the trial court, and therefore did not consent to its retroactive application before judgment of sentence, we see no reason not to permit him to request it on remand during the new penalty phase. [24]