Opinion ID: 2514968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The ICA Erred in Considering the Mandatory Parole Portion of Heggland's Colorado Conviction as Part of the Maximum Term of Imprisonment Possible.

Text: Heggland asserts that the ICA's analysis of Colorado's sentencing law within the context of HRS § 706-606.5 is incorrect. We agree. Heggland was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery in violation of Colo.Rev.Stat. § 18-2-201(1). As a class 4 felony under Colorado law, see Colo.Rev.Stat. §§ 18-4-302 & 18-2-206 (Westlaw, Colorado Statutes 1996-Annotated), it carried a presumptive sentencing range of two to six years of imprisonment and a mandatory parole term of three years. Colo.Rev.Stat. § 18-1-105(1)(a)(V)(A)(Westlaw, Colorado Statutes 1996-Annotated). According to the presentence diagnosis and report, Heggland was sentenced to five years of incarceration and three years of mandatory parole. If Heggland's PDD offense falls within the proviso of HRS § 706-606.5(2)(f), a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year and eight months would apply to Heggland based on this prior Colorado conviction. HRS § 706-606.5(1)(a)(iv). HRS § 706-606.5(2)(f) states that mandatory minimums should not apply unless the instant felony offense was committed ... within the maximum term of imprisonment possible after a prior felony conviction of another jurisdiction. HRS § 706-606.5(2)(f). The ICA concluded that the mandatory parole portion of Heggland's Colorado conviction was part of the maximum term of imprisonment possible. Specifically, the ICA stated that [b]ecause mandatory parole is part of the defendant's sentence, reincarceration after a parole violation is not a new prison sentence but incarceration on an already imposed sentence. Id. at 387-88, 173 P.3d at 534-35. Since Heggland could have been sent back to prison for a parole violation, the ICA reasoned that his PDD offense was committed within the maximum term of imprisonment possible after the Colorado conviction. Id. at 388, 173 P.3d at 535. The ICA's inclusion of the mandatory parole portion of Heggland's sentence as part of the maximum term of imprisonment possible misconstrues HRS § 706-606.5(2)(f) and is inconsistent with how Colorado law treats the mandatory parole portion of criminal sentences in that state.