Court Opinion

ID: 9752272
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 17:53:56.246191+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:12.375098
License: Public Domain

BELL, Chief Judge.
In this case, we are asked to decide an issue1 that was not presented, and, thus, was not answered, in Whack v. State, 338 Md. 665, 659 A.2d 1347 (1995): whether a sentence on a single count of an indictment or information may be enhanced pursuant to both Maryland Code (1957, 1992 Replacement Volume) Article 27, § 286(c)2 and § 293.3 The Circuit Court for Balti*645more City answered that query in the affirmative. Viewing the issue as one of statutory construction, the Court of Special Appeals issued an unpublished opinion affirming that judgment. Having issued certiorari at the petitioner Robert Lee Gardner’s request, we shall reverse the judgment of the intermediate appellate court.
I.
Although the issue it presents is complex, the facts of this case are not. The petitioner was convicted by a jury of possession of heroin and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute. Having previously been served, in accordance with Maryland Rule 4-2454, with both a “Notice of Additional Penalties,”5 and a “Notice of Mandatory Penalties,”6 he was *646sentenced for the possession with intent to distribute count7, pursuant to both §§ 286(c) and 293, to 25 years imprisonment, the first 10 of which were to be served without benefit of parole.8 The petitioner noted an appeal challenging the sentence.9 The Court of Special Appeals rejected the petitioner’s arguments and affirmed the circuit court. As indicated, we granted certiorari to address this important issue.
*645(b) Required Notice of Additional Penalties. When the law permits but does not mandate additional penalties because of a specified previous conviction, the court shall not sentence the defendant as a subsequent offender unless the State’s Attorney serves notice of the alleged prior conviction on the defendant or counsel before the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or at least 15 days before trial in circuit court or five days before trial in District Court, whichever is earlier.
(c) Required Notice of Mandatory Penalties. When the law prescribes a mandatory sentence because of a specified previous conviction, the State’s Attorney shall serve a notice of the alleged prior conviction on the defendant or counsel at least 15 days before sentencing in circuit court or five days before sentencing in District Court. If the State’s Attorney fails to give timely notice, the court shall postpone sentencing at least 15 days unless the defendant waives the notice requirement.
*647II.
The petitioner argues that a single count may not be enhanced under both § 286(c) and § 293(a). Therefore, noting that in Whack, 338 Md. at 682, 659 A.2d at 1355, we did not address the issue of “whether a sentence enhanced by the second offender provision of § 286(c) may also be enhanced by the second or subsequent offender provision of § 293,”10 he urges that the judgment of the intermediate appellate court be reversed.
On the other hand, the State argues that the trial court correctly sentenced the petitioner, pursuant to § 286(c) and § 293(a), to 25 years, without parole for the first ten years. It urges this Court to apply the reasoning it employed in Whack to affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
III.
The matter before us is, as the Court of Special Appeals recognized, one of statutory construction. We have said that an enhanced penalty may not be imposed unless that is clearly the intent of the Legislature. State v. Calhoun, 290 Md. 1, 425 A.2d 1361 (1981), aff'g 46 Md.App. 478, 418 A.2d 1241 (1980). Thus, we are called upon to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the legislature, Parrison v. State, 335 Md. 554, 559, 644 A.2d 537, 539 (1994), to determine whether, when the General Assembly enacted Article 27, §§ 286(c) and 293(a), it intended that both statutes should be applied to enhance the sentence imposed by the court on a single count. “To determine legislative intent, Ve look first to the words of the statute[s], read in light of the full context in which they appear, and in the light of external manifestations of intent or general purpose available through other evidence’.” Dickerson v. State, 324 Md. 163, 170-171, 596 A.2d 648, 651-52(1991) *648(emphasis added) (quoting Cunningham v. State, 318 Md. 182, 185, 567 A.2d 126, 127 (1989)). See also State v. Bricker, 321 Md. 86, 92, 581 A.2d 9, 12 (1990); Davis v. State, 319 Md. 56, 60, 570 A.2d 855, 857 (1990); Kaczorowski v. City of Baltimore, 309 Md. 505, 513, 525 A.2d 628, 632 (1987). This is the primary source from which legislative intent is determined. Rose v. Fox Pool, 335 Md. 351, 359, 643 A.2d 906, 910 (1994); Armstead v. State, 342 Md. 38, 673 A.2d 221 (1996). Thus, to construe these statutes, we give the words used their plain meaning and natural import. Calhoun v. State, 46 Md.App. 478, 488, 418 A.2d 1241, 1248 (1980) (quoting State v. Fabritz, 276 Md. 416, 421, 348 A.2d 275, 278 (1975)). Ordinarily, the statutory language itself is sufficient evidence of the legislative intent. Comptroller v. Jameson, 332 Md. 723, 732-33, 633 A.2d 93, 94 (1993). Only when it is not do we look elsewhere for evidence of the General Assembly’s intent. Condon v. State, 332 Md. 481, 492, 632 A.2d 753, 755 (1993); Motor Vehicle Admin. v. Mohler, 318 Md. 219, 225-27, 567 A.2d 929, 932-33 (1990).
Sections 286(c) and 293 enhance a repeat drug offender’s sentence in different ways. The § 286(c) enhancement is by way of the imposition of a mandatory minimum ten year sentence to be served without parole. “Section 293 enhances the permissible maximum sentence by permitting the imposition of twice the otherwise allowable sentence for those who are subsequent offenders.” Whack, 338 Md. at 683, 659 A.2d at 1355. On their face, viewed independently, each provision is clear and unambiguous. But that is not dispositive. Statutes that are clear when viewed separately may well be ambiguous where their application in a given situation, or when they operate together, is not clear. See Sullins v. Allstate, 340 Md. 503, 508, 667 A.2d 617, 619 (1995)(a term which is unambiguous in one context may be ambiguous in another); Tucker v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 308 Md. 69, 74, 517 A.2d 730, 732 (1986)(“That a term may be free from ambiguity when used in one context but of doubtful application in another context is well settled.”); Bernhardt v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 102 Md.App. 45, 54, 648 A.2d 1047, 1051 (1994) *649(quoting Town & Country v. Comcast Cablevision, 70 Md.App. 272, 280, 520 A.2d 1129, 1132, cert. denied, 310 Md. 2, 526 A.2d 954 (1987)) (“Language can be regarded as ambiguous in two different respects: 1) it may be intrinsically unclear ...; or 2) its intrinsic meaning may be fairly clear, but its application to a particular object or circumstance may be uncertain.”).
Because both statutes are being applied to a single count, they must be construed together and in context. Whack, 338 Md. at 673, 659 A.2d at 1350 (citing State v. Thompson, 332 Md. 1, 7, 629 A.2d 731, 734 (1993))(“[w]hen we are called upon to interpret two statutes that involve the same subject matter, have a common purpose, and form part of the same system, we read them in pari materia and construe them harmoniously.”); Gargliano v. State, 334 Md. 428, 436, 639 A.2d 675, 679 (1994); Jones v. State, 311 Md. 398, 405, 535 A.2d 471, 474 (1988); State v. Loscomb, 291 Md. 424, 432, 435 A.2d 764, 768 (1981). “Full effect is given to each statute to the extent possible, and we will not add or delete words to obtain a meaning not otherwise evident from the statutory language.” Accord, GEICO v. Insurance Comm’r, 332 Md. 124, 132, 630 A.2d 713, 717 (1993). Moreover, § 286(c) is but a subsection of § 286, section (g) of which also addresses sentence enhancements.11 Because it is imperative that statutory *650language be interpreted in its full context, it follows that § 286(c) must “be read in conjunction with the other subsections of § 286 so that we may give effect to the whole statute and harmonize all of its provisions.” Gargliano v. State, 334 Md. 428, 436, 639 A.2d 675, 678-79 (1994)(citing Williams v. State, 329 Md. 1, 15-16, 616 A.2d 1275, 1282 (1992) for the proposition that a court must discern “legislative intent from the entire statutory scheme, as opposed to scrutinizing parts of a statute in isolation.” (emphasis added)). Consequently, §§ 286(c) and 293(a) must be construed together with § 286(g).
When that is done, it is clear that their application in the single count context is not at all clear. This is especially the case when § 286(g) is considered. Subsection (g)(2)(i) prescribes both the maximum sentence for a drug kingpin committing the acts proscribed—40 years imprisonment without parole—and a mandatory minimum sentence—20 years imprisonment without parole—to be imposed and not súspended. Subsection (g)(5) expressly authorizes the enhancement of that sentence pursuant to § 293(a). If the state were correct that the enhancement statutes are clear both in their language and application, inclusion of that provision would have been unnecessary.
Nor does enlightenment flow from their legislative histories. As the petitioner points out, there is absolutely nothing, in the history of these statutes that even suggests that the Legislature intended a stacking of enhanced penalties. Section 293(a) was enacted in 1970 and has existed, without change, since that time. See Laws of Maryland 1970, ch. 403. The two-time loser provision of § 286(c) was enacted 12 years later, see Laws of Maryland 1982, ch. 770, and except for relettering, see Laws of Maryland 1988, ch. 439, has not been changed.12 As *651we have seen, only § 286(g) provides any basis for discerning the intent of the General Assembly on the issue here presented.
It is apparent that §§ 286(c) and 293(a) are highly penal statutes, and, as we have seen, their application to enhance a sentence on a single count is ambiguous. An ambiguous penal statute is subject to the “rule of lenity,” which requires that such statutes be strictly construed against the State and in favor of the defendant. See Harris v. State, 331 Md. at 145, 626 A.2d at 950; State v. Kennedy, 320 Md. 749, 754, 580 A.2d 193, 195 (1990); Wynn v. State, supra, 313 Md. 533, 539-40, 546 A.2d 465, 468-69 (1988); N. Singer, Sutherland on Statutory Construction, § 59.03, at 102-03 (5th ed. 1992). This means that it must be “ ‘strictly construed so that only punishment contemplated by the language of the statute is meted out.’ ” Gargliano, 334 Md. at 437, 639 A.2d at 679 (quoting Dickerson v. State, 324 Md. 163, 172, 596 A.2d 648, 652 (1991)). Lenity expressly prohibits a court from interpreting a criminal statute to increase the penalty it places on a defendant “ “when such an interpretation can be based on no more than a guess as to what [the Legislature] intended.’ ” Monoker v. State, 321 Md. 214, 222, 582 A.2d 525, 529 (1990) (quoting Ladner v. United States, 358 U.S. 169, 178, 79 S.Ct. 209, 214, 3 L.Ed.2d 199, 205 (1958)). In Robinson v. Lee, 317 Md. 371, 379-80, 564 A.2d 395, 399 (1989), this Court stated:
Fundamental fairness dictates that the defendant understand clearly what debt he must pay to society for his transgressions. If there is doubt as to the penalty, then the law directs that his punishment must be construed to favor a milder penalty over a harsher one.
The application of the rule of lenity under a fact pattern similar to that sub judice was addressed by the Supreme Court of the United States in Simpson v. United States, 435 *652U.S. 6, 98 S.Ct. 909, 55 L.Ed.2d 70 (1978). In that case, a federal statute provided an enhanced penalty for a bank robbery committed “by use of a dangerous weapon or device.” Id. at 7, 98 S.Ct. at 910, 55 L.Ed.2d at 73. Another statute subjected a defendant who “uses a firearm to commit any felony of which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States” to a sentence in addition to that imposed for the felony, which sentence was required to be consecutive. Id. at 7-8, 98 S.Ct. at 910-11, 55 L.Ed.2d at 73-74. Having reviewed the legislative history of the latter statute and determined that it reflected a Congressional intent to limit cumulative punishment, the Court held, alternatively, that “to construe the statute to allow the additional sentence authorized by § 924(c) to be pyramided upon a sentence already enhanced under § 2113(d) would violate the established rule of construction that ‘ambiguity concerning the ambit of criminal statutes should be resolved in favor of lenity’.” 435 U.S. at 14, 98 S.Ct. at 914, 55 L.Ed.2d at 78 (citing United States v. Bass, 404 U.S. 336, 347, 92 S.Ct. 515, 522, 30 L.Ed.2d 488 (1971) and Rewis v. United States, 401 U.S. 808, 812, 91 S.Ct. 1056, 1059, 28 L.Ed.2d 493, 497 (1971)). The Court also observed: “Even when the relevant legislative history [is] not nearly so favorable to the defendant as this, this Court has steadfastly insisted that ‘doubt will be resolved against turning a single transaction into multiple offenses.’ ” Id. at 15, 98 S.Ct. at 914, 55 L.Ed.2d at 78 (quoting Bell v. United States, 349 U.S. 81, 84, 75 S.Ct. 620, 622, 99 L.Ed. 905, 910-11 (1955)). It also reiterated what it previously had said in Ladner, that lenity requires more than a guess to justify interpreting a statute so as to increase the penalty otherwise prescribed. Id. at 15, 98 S.Ct. at 914, 55 L.Ed.2d at 78.
Finally, when the Legislature has both wanted to increase the maximum penalty and to impose a mandatory minimum sentence for a second or subsequent offense, it has done so unequivocally, in clear and unambiguous terms. E.g. *653§ 286D(b)(1)13, prescribing the enhanced penalty for the felony of distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, or conspiring to do so, within 1000 feet of a school, § 36B (b)(ii) and (iii)14, the enhanced punishment provision applicable to the unlawful wearing, carrying, or transporting of a handgun, and Maryland Code (1977, 1992 RepLVol, 1996 Cum.Supp.) § 27-lOKj) and (k)15, of the Transportation Article, prescribing the penalties for driving while intoxicated.
*654JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS REVERSED. CASE REMANDED TO THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS WITH DIRECTIONS TO VACATE THE SENTENCE AND REMAND THE CASE TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY FOR RESEN-TENCING CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. COSTS IN THIS COURT AND IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS TO BE PAID BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE.

. The Petition for Certiorari presents a second issue, namely, whether the Court of Special Appeals erred in holding that the State did not withdraw its "Notice of Additional Penalties,” notifying the petitioner of the State's intent to pursue additional penalties. In view of our interpretation of the applicable statutes, we do not address this issue.

. That section provides, in pertinent part, that:
(1) A person who is convicted under subsection (b)(1) or subsection (b)(2) of this section, or of conspiracy to violate subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 10 years if the person previously has been convicted:
(i) under subsection (b)(1) or subsection (b)(2) of this section;
* * * * Sí! *
(2) The prison sentence of a person sentenced under subsection (b)(1) or subsection (b)(2) of this section, or of conspiracy to violate subsection (b)(1) or subsection (b)(2) of this section or any combination of these offenses, as a second offender may not be suspended to less than 10 years, and the person may be paroled during that period only in accordance with Article 3 IB, § 11 of the Code.

. That section provides, as relevant, that:
*645(a) Any person convicted of any offense under [the Health—Controlled Dangerous Substances] subheading is, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense, punishable by a term of imprisonment twice that otherwise authorized, by twice the fine otherwise authorized, or by both.

. Maryland Rule 4-245, in pertinent part, provides:

. That notice advised the petitioner of his exposure, as a result of certain enumerated prior convictions, to a sentence of imprisonment for twice the term otherwise authorized.

. In that notice, the petitioner was informed that the State intended to seek a sentence of 10 years without parole.

. The petitioner’s conviction for possession of heroin merged, for sentencing purposes, into the count for possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

. To combat the growing problem of recidivism, States across the nation, including Maryland, and the federal government enacted statutes calling for enhanced punishments, i.e., harsher maximum and minimum penalties than those imposed upon first time offenders. See Parke v. Raley, 506 U.S. 20, 26, 113 S.Ct. 517, 521-22, 121 L.Ed.2d 391, 401-03 (1992). Such legislative acts were designed to be deterrents and to protect the public from recidivist behavior. A criminal defendant subject to enhanced punishment in Maryland is one who is a subsequent offender with a prior conviction for a related offense. The enhanced punishment is not imposed for the previous offense; rather, it is incident to the subsequent offense and as a result of the defendant’s persistent course of criminal conduct. Hawkins v. State, 302 Md. 143, 150, 486 A.2d 179, 183 (1985). Although a prior conviction must exist, it is not a necessary predicate to the imposition of an enhanced penalty that all appeals concerning that conviction previously have been exhausted. Whack v. State, 338 Md. 665, 668, 659 A.2d 1347, 1348 (1995).
In 1970, the Maryland Legislature adopted substantial provisions of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, including § 293, in furtherance of its objective of preventing the abuse of "controlled dangerous substances and related paraphernalia ... which results in a serious health problem to the individual and represents a serious danger to the welfare of the people of the State of Maryland.” Maryland Code, (1957, 1992 Repl. Vol.), Art. 27, § 276(a). The General Assembly further provided that ”[t)he provisions of th[e Health-Controlled Dangerous Substances] subheading shall be liberally interpreted and construed so as to effectuate its general purpose....” Art. 27, § 276(b). As we shall see, it subsequently enacted the other statute at issue in this case, § 286(c).

. The petitioner does not dispute his recidivist status and, thus, does not challenge the court’s authority to impose an enhanced sentence. He simply argues that the sentence may only be enhanced once and in only one way.

. Writing for the majority, Judge Raker explained: "It is important to remember that as a result of [Whack’s] sentence reduction by the sentence review panel, Whack’s sentence on any one count is not enhanced as a second offender by both § 286(c) and § 293....” Whack v. State, 338 Md. 665, 682, 659 A.2d 1347, 1355 (1995).

. Art. 27, § 286(g) provides, in relevant part:
(2) A drug kingpin who conspires to manufacture, distribute, dispense, bring into, or transport in the State controlled dangerous substances in one or more of the amounts described under subsection (f) of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to:
(i) Imprisonment for not less than 20 nor more than 40 years without the possibility of parole, and it is mandatory on the court to impose no less than 20 years’ imprisonment, no part of which may be suspended; and
(ii) A fine of not more than $1,000,000.
(3) The provisions of §§ 292 and 641 of this article are not applicable to a conviction under this subsection.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subheading, a conviction under this subsection does not merge with the conviction for any offense which is the object of the conspiracy.
(5) Nothing contained in this subsection prohibits the court from imposing an enhanced penalty under § 293 of this article. This *650subsection may not be construed to preclude or limit any prosecution for any other criminal offense.

. When first enacted in 1982, mandatory penalties for two-time offenders were codified as § 286(b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3). Subsections *651(b)(1) and (b)(2) were recodified as subsection (c) in 1988, with the addition of subsection (d) and (e) to § 286.

. (b)(1) A person who violates the provisions of this section, on conviction, shall be subject to the following penalties:
4: 4* 4* 4* 4* 4*
(ii) For a second or subsequent offense, imprisonment for not less than 5 or more than 40 years or a fine of not more than $40,000 or both. It is mandatory for the court to impose a minimum sentence of 5 years, which may not be suspended, and a person is not eligible for parole during that period, except in accordance with Article 3IB, § 11 of the Code.
(2) A sentence imposed under this subsection shall be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a conviction arising under this section may not merge with a conviction for a violation of § 286 or § 286C of this subheading.

. (b)(ii) If the person has previously been convicted of unlawfully wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun ... he shall be sentenced to the Maryland Division of Correction for a term of not less than 1 year nor more than 10 years, and it is mandatory upon the court to impose no less than the minimum sentence of 1 year; provided, however, that if it shall appear from the evidence that the handgun was worn, carried, or transported on any public school property in this State, the court shall impose a sentence of imprisonment of not less than three years.
(iii) If the person has previously been convicted more than once of unlawfully wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun ... he shall be sentenced to the Maryland Division of Correction for a term of not less than three years nor more than 10 years, and it is mandatory upon the court to impose no less than the minimum sentence of three years; provided, however, that if it shall appear from the evidence that the handgun was worn, carried, or transported on any public school property in this State, the court shall impose a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 5 years, (emphasis added).

. Maryland Code (1977, 1992 Repl. Vol., 1996 Cum. Supp.) § 27-101(j) and (k) provides:
(j) Mandatory minimum penalty.—(1) In this subsection, "imprisonment” includes confinement in an inpatient rehabilitation or treatment center.
*654(2) A person who is convicted of a violation of Sec. 21-902(a) of this article within 3 years after a prior conviction under that subsection is subject to a mandatory minimum penalty of:
(i) Imprisonment for not less than 48 consecutive hours; or
(ii) Community service for not less than 80 hours.
(3) The penalties provided by this subsection are mandatory and are not subject to suspension or probation.
(k) Violation of § 21-902(a).—(1) Except as provided in subsection (q) of this section, any person who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of Sec. 21-902(a) of this article ("Driving while intoxicated”):
(1) For a first offense, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than I year, or both;
(ii) For a second offense, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $2,000, or imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both; and
(iii) For a third or subsequent offense, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $3,000, or imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both.
(2) For the purpose of second or subsequent offender penalties for violation of Sec. 21-902(a) of this article provided under this subsection, a prior conviction of Sec. 21-902(b), (c), or (d) of this article, within 5 years of the conviction for a violation of Sec. 21-902(a) of this article, shall be considered a conviction of Sec. 21-902(a) of this article.