Opinion ID: 1314867
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the recidivist trial

Text: This Court, upon careful examination of the record, finds no error with respect to the procedure for the prosecution of the defendant pursuant to the West Virginia habitual offender statutes, W.Va.Code, 61-11-18, et seq. [11] Contrary to the assertions of the defendant, the appellate process relating to the defendant's April, 1979, conviction for violation of the West Virginia Controlled Substances Act need not have been completed prior to the institution by the State of recidivist proceedings. In fact, W.Va.Code, 61-11-19, specifically requires that such proceedings be instituted ... upon conviction and before sentence. It would not be proper, therefore, to delay the sentencing of a defendant, pursuant to the habitual offender statutes, until such time the appellate process relating to a defendant's last felony conviction has been completed. All other issues raised by the defendant are without merit. For the reasons stated above, the April, 1979, order of conviction of the defendant for possession and delivery of marihuana is hereby reversed, and the case is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Consequently, the defendant's 1979 conviction, pursuant to the habitual offender statutes is hereby set aside. Reversed and Remanded.