Opinion ID: 1773562
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: , vii., viii.

Text: All of these points concern the validity of appellant's conviction as a habitual criminal. The amended information charges seven previous convictions. The record discloses that Morris Haak, Circuit Clerk of Miller County, testified as to one prior conviction for grand larceny, three prior convictions for forgery, and three prior convictions for uttering. A certified copy of one prior federal conviction, for possession of stolen mail in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708(a)(2) (1964), was also introduced into evidence. The record also affirmatively discloses that in each of these convictions appellant was represented by counsel. However, under point VI appellant contends that certain prior convictions, which were invalid because he was not represented by counsel, were introduced by the state and thus rendered his conviction as a habitual criminal void. The convictions involved occurred in 1955 for grand larceny. However, even assuming they are void, as we recognized in Wilburn v. State, 253 Ark. ___, 487 S.W.2d 600 (1972), they do not necessarily change the result reached in the lower court for several reasons. First, these convictions were not offered in evidence in support of the habitual criminal charge, but were merely brought out on cross-examination by the prosecuting attorney for impeachment of appellant when he took the stand in his own behalf. Ark.Stat.Ann. § 28-707 (Repl.1962); Noyes v. State, 161 Ark. 340, 256 S.W. 63. Second, no objection of any kind to this cross-examination was made in the trial court. Third, under Wilburn v. State, supra, this court on appeal from a conviction under the habitual criminal act may reduce a sentence when void convictions introduced have the effect of causing an illegal sentence to be imposed. The eight valid prior convictions are more than ample to support the lower court judgment as to the habitual criminal conviction. Appellant now contends that his guilty pleas on two of the convictions on which the state relied were coerced. We find no objection to the evidence in the trial court on this ground, and appellant cannot raise this question for the first time on appeal. Appellant's point VII concerns the refusal of the trial court to accept the testimony of appellant as to the circumstances of the prior convictions and the rationale for defendant's plea of guilty in the state convictions. No offer of proof was made, and we do not understand appellant's present contentions to be anything other than an attempt to retry the earlier cases, which is certainly not permissible. We have held that the testimony of the circuit clerk as to the contents of the official records is sufficient evidence to support a habitual criminal conviction. Flurry v. State, 248 Ark. 722, 453 S.W.2d 402. There is no indication that the prosecution suppressed any evidence. Appellant's only charge in that respect is based upon the prosecuting attorney's objection to appellant's attempt to testify as to defenses to these previous charges. Under point VIII appellant claims that since the same jury found him guilty of the larceny charge and the habitual criminal charge, he was denied a fair and impartial jury in the latter instance. We do not agree. The procedure employed by the court in immediately submitting the habitual criminal charge to the jury which found appellant guilty of larceny is required by Ark.Stat.Ann. § 43-2330.1 (Supp. 1971). We have recognized the validity of this procedure and the habitual criminal act previously and this contention is without merit. Ridgeway v. State, 251 Ark. 157, 472 S.W.2d 108; Brown v. State, 252 Ark. 846, 481 S.W.2d 366; Poe v. State, 251 Ark. 35, 470 S.W.2d 818. See also, Rimes v. State, 251 Ark. 678, 474 S.W.2d 115.