Opinion ID: 2598694
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Moore's Sentence K.S.A. 21-4710(11)

Text: We first consider a problem with Moore's sentence which was not raised in the briefs. See K.S.A. 22-3504 (the court may correct an illegal sentence at any time). Moore had a criminal history score of B, which included sexual exploitation of a child, a person felony; indecent liberties with a child, a person felony; and theft, a nonperson misdemeanor. Aggravated indecent liberties with a child is a severity level 3 felony; kidnapping is also a severity level 3 felony. Moore's criminal history score, combined with the severity level of his crimes, called for a presumptive prison sentence of XXX-XXX-XXX months for each crime. See K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(a). The district court applied K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(j), which says: The sentence for any persistent sex offender whose current convicted crime carries a presumptive term of imprisonment shall be double the maximum duration of the presumptive imprisonment term. The sentence for any persistent sex offender whose current conviction carries a presumptive nonprison term shall be presumed imprisonment and shall be double the maximum duration of the presumptive imprisonment term. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, as used in this subsection, `persistent sex offender' means a person who: (1) Has been convicted in this state of a sexually violent crime, as defined in K.S.A. 22-3717 and amendments thereto; and (2) at the time of the conviction under subsection (1) has at least one conviction for a sexually violent crime, as defined in K.S.A. 22-3717 and amendments thereto in this state or comparable felony under the laws of another state, the federal government or a foreign government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person whose current convicted crime is a severity level 1 or 2 felony. Sexually violent crime is defined in pertinent part in K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 22-3717(d)(2)(B), (C), and (H) to include the crimes of indecent liberties with a child, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and sexual exploitation of a child. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 22-3717(d)(2)(L) also includes in the definition of a sexually violent crime any act which at the time of sentencing for the offense has been determined beyond a reasonable doubt to have been sexually motivated. As used in this subparagraph, `sexually motivated' means that one of the purposes for which the defendant committed the crime was for the purpose of the defendant's sexual gratification. The district court apparently noted that Moore had been convicted of a sexually violent crimethe district court did not specify which oneand that his current conviction of aggravated indecent liberties was statutorily defined as sexually violent. The district court then doubled the maximum sentence for a 3-B crime and imposed a 380-month prison term for the aggravated indecent liberties conviction. The district court next found that Moore's conviction of kidnapping was sexually motivated, thus fitting the definition of a sexually violent crime under K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 22-3717(d)(2)(L). The district court again doubled the maximum sentence for a 3-B crime and imposed a 380-month prison term for the kidnapping conviction. The district court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. At sentencing, Moore argued that the district court could not use a prior conviction to enhance his criminal history score and use the same prior conviction to qualify him as a persistent sex offender under K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(j). The district court rejected Moore's argument. K.S.A. 21-4710(d)(11) says: Prior convictions of any crime shall not be counted in determining the criminal history category if they enhance the severity level or applicable penalties, elevate the classification from misdemeanor to felony, or are elements of the present crime of conviction. Except as otherwise provided, all other prior convictions will be considered and scored. State v. Taylor, 27 Kan. App.2d 62, Syl. ¶ 3, 998 P.2d 123, rev. denied 269 Kan. 940 (2000), held: A prior conviction upon which a defendant has been classified as a persistent sex offender under K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(j) may not be used in determining that defendant's criminal history category. We specifically approved the Taylor holding in Zabrinas, 271 Kan. at 443-44. Here, the district court erred in failing to remove from Moore's criminal history the sexually violent crime it used to qualify Moore as a persistent sex offender under K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(j). With one person felony removed from his criminal history score, Moore's criminal history category is D. See K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(a). The presumptive sentence for a 3-D crime is 74-78-83 months' imprisonment. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 21-4704(a). Moore's sentence for aggravated indecent liberties and his sentence for kidnapping must be vacated and remanded for resentencing.