Court Opinion

ID: 9688956
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:14:23.879356+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:43.234488
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
In Ford, this court followed the general rule that a valid sentence may not be increased once a defendant has commenced to serve that sentence. 328 N.W.2d at 267. See also, Annot., 26 A.L.R. 4th 905, 912 § 3 (1983). This court held that the oral sentence is the only sentence and courts are precluded from entering a written judgment that differs from the prior oral one. Ford also held that the sentence commences almost immediately after oral imposition of sentence; specifically, commencement begins with the trial judge’s order remanding the defendant to the custody of the county sheriff immediately following oral sentencing.
While I reserve criticism of the Ford case, I believe we should affirm the trial courts resentencing regardless of our holding in Ford. I agree that SDCL 23A-31-1 does not provide authority for the courts to increase a defendant’s sentence when correcting an illegal sentence. Ford, supra. However, the statute does not prohibit a court from imposing a greater sentence, and Ford does not hold that a court may never vacate a void sentence and thereafter impose a greater sentence upon resentenc-ing. This court has never held that a sentence can only be modified pursuant to a defendant’s post-conviction remedy in SDCL 23A-31-1.
Numerous states now recognize that a state court which imposed an unlawful sentence retains authority to correct the sentence, regardless of whether the correction increased the sentence or whether the defendant had commenced serving the original sentence. See Annot. 28 A.L.R. 4th 147, 153 § 3 (1984). While the original sentence in this case was not illegal, the sentence was void because of the fraud committed upon the court. Therefore, the trial court should have jurisdiction to modify the sentence. Appellant’s initial sentence which was procured as a result of fraud upon the court was a nullity, and the second sentencing did not run afoul of double jeopardy principles. See, State v. Enfinger, 722 P.2d 1170 (Mont.1986); State v. Rushing, 103 N.M. 333, 706 P.2d 875 (App.1985); Com. v. Bossche, 324 Pa.Super. 1, 471 A.2d 93 (1984); State v. Nardone, 114 R.I. 363, 334 A.2d 208 (1975).
Ford only held that valid sentences may not be increased, and there was no fraud committed upon the court in that case. The rule permitting correction of void sentences applies where the defendant has begun to serve the original sentence. Bozza v. United States, 330 U.S. 160, 166-167, 67 S.C.t 645, 648-49, 91 L.Ed. 818 (1947); United States v. Edmonson, 792 F.2d 1492, 1496 (9th Cir.1986). In addition, *404there is no double jeopardy, prohibition against correcting an invalid sentence even if such correction increases the punishment. Bozza, supra; Edmonson, supra. Increasing a defendant’s sentence after service of the sentence has begun is not constitutionally prohibited by double jeopardy principles. Pennsylvania v. Goldhammer, 474 U.S. 28, 106 S.Ct. 353, 88 L.Ed.2d 183 (1985); United States v. DiFrancesco, 449 U.S. 117, 101 S.Ct. 426, 66 L.Ed.2d 328 (1980). Therefore, this court should hold that the fraud made the first sentence invalid and the trial court could vacate and resentence based on the newly acquired facts even though under Ford appellant had already commenced serving his sentence.