Court Opinion

ID: 4114099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-09 16:17:22.927142+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:22.164230
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

State of West Virginia,
Plaintiff Below, Respondent                                                         FILED
                                                                                January 9, 2017
vs) No. 16-0278 (Randolph County 15-F-20)                                        RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                   OF WEST VIRGINIA
Londa Mae Hogue,
Defendant Below, Petitioner

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Londa Mae Hogue, by counsel Christopher W. Cooper, appeals the Circuit
Court of Randolph County’s February 8, 2015, order denying her motion for a reduction of
sentence. The State, by counsel Benjamin F. Yancey III, filed a response in support of the circuit
court’s order. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred at sentencing in considering
other crimes charged but not pled to, her failure to take responsibility for her crimes and lack of
remorse, and in utilizing a pre-sentence investigation report containing the words “Official
Version [of the facts].”

        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        On February 23, 2015, petitioner was indicted on six felony counts each of possession
with intent to deliver and delivery of a controlled substance and four misdemeanor counts
involving traffic violations. Petitioner and respondent entered into a plea agreement whereby
petitioner agreed to plead guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana,
pursuant to Kennedy v. Frazier, 178 W.Va. 10, 357 S.E.2d 43 (1987).1 Respondent agreed to
dismiss the remaining charges with prejudice, and it further agreed to not seek sentencing
enhancement and to stand silent with regard to sentencing. The circuit court accepted petitioner’s
plea and, on September 30, 2015, adjudicated her guilty and convicted her of one count of
possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

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        Syllabus Point 1 of Kennedy permits an accused to “voluntarily, knowingly and
understandingly consent to the imposition of a prison sentence even though he is unwilling to
admit participation in the crime, if he intelligently concludes that his interests require a guilty
plea and the record supports the conclusion that a jury could convict him.” Syl. Pt. 1, Kennedy v.
Frazier, 178 W.Va. 10, 357 S.E.2d 43 (1987).
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        On November 13, 2015, petitioner was sentenced to not less than one nor more than five
years in the state penitentiary. Petitioner did not appeal her conviction or sentencing. Rather,
petitioner moved for a reduction of sentence pursuant to West Virginia Rule of Criminal
Procedure 35(b). By order dated February 8, 2016, petitioner’s motion was denied. This appeal
followed.

        Although petitioner appeals the denial of her motion for a reduction of sentence, her
assignments of error concern alleged errors made during sentencing. We recently held that “Rule
35(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure only authorizes a reduction in sentence.
Rule 35(b) is not a mechanism by which defendants may challenge their convictions and/or the
validity of their sentencing.” Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Marcum, -- W.Va. --, 792 S.E.2d 37 (2016).

              In short, it is abundantly clear that Rule 35(b) cannot be used as a
              vehicle to challenge a conviction or the validity of the sentence
              imposed by the circuit court, whether raised in the Rule 35(b)
              motion or in the appeal of the denial of the Rule 35(b) motion. In
              other words, challenges to convictions or the validity of sentences
              should be made through a timely, direct criminal appeal before this
              Court will have jurisdiction to consider the matter.

Marcum, 792 S.E.2d at 42. Because petitioner’s assignments of error challenging her sentence
exceed the scope of a Rule 35(b) motion, they are not properly before the Court.

       For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s February 8, 2016, order denying motion for
reduction of sentence is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                      Affirmed.

ISSUED: January 9, 2017

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

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