Court Opinion

ID: 9550151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:30:35.586514+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:55.639321
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON REHEARING
BUSSEY, Presiding Judge:
Appellant, Ray R. Stokes, a/k/a Robert R. Stokes, Bob Stokes, Bob R. Stokes, and Roy Stone, hereinafter referred to as defendant, was convicted in the District Court of Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma for the offense of Obtaining Merchandise by Means of a False and Bogus Check, After Former Conviction of a Felony, and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment. This cause was reviewed by this Court and affirmed on April 19, 1972. A timely motion for rehearing was filed by the defendant.
We have carefully examined the defendant’s excellent brief in support of his motion for rehearing, and after examining such, are of the opinion that the cause must be MODIFIED. We observe that the trial court in the second stage of the trial instructed the jury that the minimum punishment for Obtaining Merchandise by Means of a False and Bogus Check, After Former Conviction of a Felony was not less than ten (10) years. The offense was alleged to have occurred on November 4, 1967; hence, under the then-existing statute, 21 O.S., § 51, the jury should have been instructed that the minimum sentence for the crime charged was a term of not less than one (1) year.
In the original opinion, we discussed improper argument by the District Attorney in the second portion of his closing argument. Although we felt that such remarks were prejudicial, we stated that we were without authority to modify the sentence, inasmuch as the minimum sentence of ten (10) years was imposed. We are of the opinion that because both of the errors occurred in the second stage of the proceedings after the jury had determined the defendant’s guilt that the same does not constitute reversible error. It is therefore the order of this Court that the judgment and sentence is modified to a term of one (1) year imprisonment, and as so modified, the judgment and sentence is
Affirmed.
Modified and affirmed.
BRETT, J., concurs.