Court Opinion

ID: 9767469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:20:20.06127+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:31.341555
License: Public Domain

MAUS, Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent. I acknowledge the rules of statutory construction cited in the majority opinion. However, I believe that, when § 570.040 is considered as a part of the Criminal Code, those rules are subordinate to other rules of construction which control the disposition of this case. Those controlling rules have received the following expressions.
“The primary rule of statutory construction in a situation such as this is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent. In doing so the entire legislative act must be considered and all provisions must be harmonized if reasonably possible. Every word, clause, sentence, and section of an act must be given some meaning unless it is in conflict with the ascertained legislative intent.” State v. Burgin, 654 S.W.2d 627, 630 (Mo.App.1983).
“First, we consider the plain meaning of the language used.” Sours v. State, 603 S.W.2d 592, 598 (Mo. banc 1980).
“The canon of strict construction of criminal statutes is well recognized. However, that canon is not to be applied inflexibly, to override all other considerations.” State v. Daugherty, 744 S.W.2d 849, 852 (Mo.App.1988).
Section 557.036 (Role of court and jury in sentencing), § 558.016 (Extended terms for persistent or dangerous offenders — definitions), § 570.030 (Stealing — penalties) and § 570.040 (Stealing, third offense) were adopted as a part of the Criminal Code. They are to be harmonized if reasonably possible. “The principle of construing statutes harmoniously when they relate to the same subject matter is all the more compelling when they are enacted at the same session of the General Assembly.” State v. Holmes, 654 S.W.2d 133, 135 (Mo.App.1983).
These principles have been applied to hold that the court is authorized to extend the term of a persistent sexual offender. State v. Burgin, supra. They were applied in State v. Arbeiter, 664 S.W.2d 566 (Mo.App.1983) to hold that § 558.016, providing for sentencing by the court, is applicable to possession of marijuana, second offense. Cf. State v. LaPlant, 673 S.W.2d 782 (Mo. banc 1984). These principles were also applied in State v. Cooper, 712 S.W.2d 27 (Mo.App.1986), a case presenting a factual situation remarkably similar to the instant case. In Cooper a defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment upon a charge of escape. Escape was a misdemeanor unless enhanced to a class A felony by the use of a deadly weapon, § 575.210. Yet the court held the defendant was in the same action properly convicted and punished for armed criminal action based upon that use of a deadly weapon. In so holding the court said: “To us, subjecting defendant to cumulative penalties for multiple *511felonies committed through the use of a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon simply carries out and is consistent with this intent and the statutory scheme.” Cooper, at 32. In a similar case the defendant argued “§ 569.020 RSMo.1979, defining robbery, first degree, ‘creates an enhancement for the use of a weapon, and, therefore, a second enhancement statute [§ 571.015 RSMo.1979, armed criminal action] for the same weapon is constitutionally infirm.’” The court responded, “We disagree.” State v. Kirksey, 725 S.W.2d 611, 614 (Mo.App.1987).
In part § 557.036 provides “4. If the defendant is found to be a ..., persistent offender, ... as defined in section 558.016, RSMo: (1) If he has been found guilty of a class B, C, or D felony, the court shall proceed as provided in section 558.016, RSMo, ...” Section 558.016 in part provides “1. The court may sentence a person who ... has been found guilty of a class C, ... felony ... to an extended term of imprisonment if it finds the defendant is a persistent offender_” Section 558.016.3 defines a “persistent offender” as “... one who has pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of two or more felonies committed at different times.” Section 570.040 declares “Every person who has been previously convicted of stealing two times, and who is subsequently convicted of stealing is guilty of a class C felony and shall be punished accordingly.” (Emphasis added.) There is nothing ambiguous about the terms “felony” or “felonies” as used in § 557.036 or § 558.016. Those terms in plain language include the class C felony of stealing, third offense. It is my opinion that § 570.040, also in plain language, declares that the third conviction for stealing shall be punished as any other class C felony. This includes the imposition of an extended term if the defendant is a persistent offender. I find no basis to distinguish one persistent offender from another. To do so is to disregard the language used by the legislature and what I believe is the evident intent of the legislature. The above construction conforms to the mandate that the cited statutes are to be construed harmoniously.
Contrary to the implication of some of the authorities cited in the majority opinion, there is no per se condemnation of so called “double enhancement”. State v. Cooper, supra. The statutory definitions of many crimes provide that the presence of an element in addition to the basic elements of an offense enhances the grade of or punishment for that offense. The following are examples of such crimes and the enhancing element. False imprisonment— removal of restrained person from the state, § 565.130. Forcible rape — use of deadly weapon or part of multiple assault, § 566.030. Sexual assault in the first degree — serious physical injury or displays a deadly weapon, § 566.040. Tampering with utility meter — second or subsequent violation, § 569.090. Armed criminal action — repetitive offense, § 571.015. Escape — use of a deadly weapon or holding a hostage, § 575.210.
Yet, it is clear that even though the presence of the additional element enhances the grade of such offense, the offender may be punished as a prior, persistent or dangerous offender under § 558.016. The same principle is applicable to uphold a conviction for an underlying felony and for armed criminal action based upon the same events. State v. Kirksey, supra. Where the legislature has so intended there is no constitutional bar to the imposition of multiple punishments for one offense in a single trial. Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 368, 103 S.Ct. 673, 679, 74 L.Ed.2d 535, 543 (1983).
Factors may establish a legislature did not intend multiple punishments or enhancement. Such factors may include the following. A priority in time or the sequence in which applicable statutes are passed. Admissible evidence of a contrary legislative intent. An irreconcilable conflict between the applicable statutes. The fact the offense in question is not a part of the general Criminal Code. The fact the provisions for enhancement contain complete directions for the punishment of the basic and enhanced offenses. Cf. State v. Williams, 693 S.W.2d 125 (Mo.App.1985).
*512For example, Busic v. United States, 446 U.S. 398, 100 S.Ct. 1747, 64 L.Ed.2d 381 (1980), cited in the majority opinion, in finding a contrary legislative intent relies upon a priority in adoption and evidence of such contrary intent in the Congressional Record. In State v. Smith, 591 S.W.2d 263, 265 (Mo.App.1979), the offense of DWI, third conviction, was defined outside the Criminal Code. The Second Offender Act then in force provided for judge sentencing and enhancement only “(1) If the subsequent offense be such that, upon a first conviction, the offender could be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary, In Lawson v. State, 295 Ark. 37, 746 S.W.2d 544 (1988), the court was dealing with a repetitive driving while intoxicated offense - defined in a separate section of the statutes which contained a complete range of punishment. The court cited as authority a number of cases, without regard to the facts or legislative history. Upon that basis the court condemned “stacking” enhancement provisions and refused to apply the habitual offender statute even though the defendant had been convicted of “four felonies unrelated to DWI charges.” Lawson, 746 S.W.2d at 545. That rationale would bar the punishment of a defendant convicted of forcible rape by a deadly weapon as a persistent offender. I do not find Lawson persuasive. The same is true of Goodloe v. Parratt, 605 F.2d 1041 (1979). In that opinion the case was remanded for the defendant to raise the issue of legislative intent in the state court.
Notes on Use 7 to MAI-CR 3d 324.02.1 does not mandate that in the submission of stealing — third offense the jury will be instructed concerning the range of punishment and to assess the punishment when it has been established the defendant is a prior or persistent offender. MAI-CR 3d 304.08 directs otherwise.
In summary, I believe the statutes applicable by their terms must be harmoniously construed. Those statutes were reconciled in a recent case in which the nature of the prior felonies was not considered.
“Although the basic stealing offense charged was a misdemeanor, by Section 570.040 RSMo 1978 a third offense, as here, is deemed a class C felony. By Section 558.016.6(3) RSMo Supp.1952, a class C felony by a persistent offender is punishable by 15 years in prison. Thus the punishment here was authorized by statute.” State v. Van, 665 S.W.2d 373, 374 (Mo.App.1984).
Also see State v. Wade, 666 S.W.2d 869 (Mo.App.1984); Woods v. State, 471 N.E.2d 691 (Ind.1984); State v. Kirksey, supra; State v. Cooper, supra. I would affirm the conviction.