Opinion ID: 1715287
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Attempted Assault and Discharge Crimes

Text: We begin by noting that although both parties treat the district court's action in this regard as an attempt to correct, by the sentences imposed, the misstatements of the court at arraignment, the record suggests instead that the district court combined the two offenses to correct a perceived double jeopardy problem. For while it is true the record reflects that at the sentencing the district court discussed the arraignment issues, the record also reveals that the district court then immediately turned its attention to the double jeopardy issues by stating: The Court considers [the attempted assault crime] and [the discharge crime] to be one [offense] for sentencing purposes. It is true the Nebraska Courts use the elements test to discern whether offenses are contained within another offense. The test is decided in State v. Parks, 245 Neb. 205, 511 N.W.2d 774. The elements of [the two crimes] certainly sound different, except for the date and venue, but the proof shows that the elements are one and the same if they had been spelled out in particulars. It appears therefrom that the district court improvidently considered one of the two crimes to be a lesser-included offense of the other. However, we have held that to constitute a lesser-included offense, the elements of the lesser crime must be such that it is impossible to commit the greater crime without at the same time having committed the lesser one. State v. Null, 247 Neb. 192, 526 N.W.2d 220 (1995); State v. White, 244 Neb. 577, 508 N.W.2d 554 (1993). In determining whether a lesser crime is a lesser-included offense, we apply a statutory elements test, wherein a court initially looks not to the evidence but, rather, only to the elements of the criminal offense. See, Null, supra ; White, supra . In that regard, McBride asks that we revisit our holding in State v. Woodfork, 239 Neb. 720, 478 N.W.2d 248 (1991), setting forth the statutory elements test, and instead reconsider applying the cognitive analysis approach, found in State v. Harrington, 236 Neb. 500, 461 N.W.2d 752 (1990) (disapproved by Woodfork ), because the five years of jurisprudence in Nebraska [after Woodfork ] shows that the statutory elements analysis [approach] is no more judicially expedient than the cognitive analysis approach. Brief for appellant at 18. Contrary to McBride's characterization of Woodfork, however, to the extent it relied upon the cognate-evidence approach, Woodfork was also subsequently overruled on that basis. See State v. Williams, 243 Neb. 959, 503 N.W.2d 561 (1993). We decline McBride's invitation and adhere to the statutory elements test. One commits an attempted first degree assault if one intentionally engages in conduct which is a substantial step in a course of conduct intended or known to cause serious bodily injury to another person. §§ 28-201 and 28-308. One unlawfully discharges a firearm if one intentionally discharges it at, among other things, an occupied motor vehicle. § 28-1212.02. Thus, one offense is not a lesser-included offense of the other because one need not discharge a firearm to be proved guilty of attempted first degree assault and also because one need not intend or know that one's conduct will cause serious bodily injury to another to be proved to have discharged a firearm. Accordingly, the district court had no legal basis upon which to impose a single sentence on the two adjudications of guilt. A sentence imposed without a legal basis is void. In the context of determining the effects of a prior sentence for enhancement purposes, we explained in Berumen v. Casady, 245 Neb. 936, 940, 515 N.W.2d 816, 819 (1994): For example, in Mingus v. Fairbanks, [211 Neb. 81, 317 N.W.2d 770 (1982) ], we held that the trial court could not find the defendant guilty of the uncharged offense of debauching a minor, notwithstanding defendant's plea of not guilty to pandering, as the former offense was not a lesser offense included with the pandering charge. In so ruling, we quoted with approval from In re McVey, 50 Neb. 481, 70 N.W. 51 (1897), which was cited with approval in State v. McClarity, 180 Neb. 246, 142 N.W.2d 152 (1966), as follows: In McVey, the appellant was charged with the crime of burglary. The jury acquitted the appellant on the charge of burglary, but found him guilty of breaking and entering in the daytime. In discharging appellant from custody, we said at 483-84, 70 N.W. at 52: `The only further question presented is whether the sentence of the court was merely erroneous or whether it was illegal in such a sense as to be void. It may be said that the modern doctrine or idea is that a court must possess jurisdiction not only of the person and subject-matter, but to impose the sentence which is adjudged. If the latter is lacking the sentence is not merely voidable but void. (Black, Judgments, sec. 258; citing, among others, Ex parte Lange, 85 U.S.(18 Wall.) [1]63[, 21 L.Ed. 872 (1874)]; Ex parte Milligan, [71 U.S.(4 Wall) 2, 18 L.Ed. 281 (1866) ]; Ex parte Wilson, 114 U.S. 417[, 5 S.Ct. 935, 29 L.Ed. 89 (1885) ]; Ex parte Kearny, 55 Cal. 212; In re Petty, 22 Kan. 477. See, also, Ex parte Cox, 3 Idaho 530, 32 P. 197 (1893); Ex parte Yarbrough, 110 U.S. 651[, 4 S.Ct. 152, 28 L.Ed. 274 (1884) ].) In the case at bar, the jury having, by its verdict, determined the prisoner not guilty as charged, although it further adjudged him guilty of another crime, the trial court had no jurisdiction to sentence him; hence its attempt in that direction was illegal in such sense that it was void, and habeas corpus the appropriate remedy. ( In re Betts, 36 Neb. 282[, 54 N.W. 524 (1893)]; In re Hav[e]lik, 45 Neb. 747[, 64 N.W. 234 (1895) ].) It follows that the prisoner must be discharged.' See, also, State v. Bensing, 249 Neb. 900, 547 N.W.2d 464 (1996); State v. Campbell, 247 Neb. 517, 527 N.W.2d 868 (1995). A void sentence is no sentence. Campbell, supra . Accordingly, the single sentence imposed for the separate attempted assault and discharge crimes must be vacated and set aside.