Court Opinion

ID: 9572397
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:41:21.395159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:47.944958
License: Public Domain

Judge Johnson
dissenting.
Although the majority finds that the trial court erred by considering in aggravation “evidence necessary to prove an element of the offense,” it holds that the error is not prejudicial unless the defendants show that a different result would have been reached had the court not erroneously considered the evidence. The situation presented in State v. Ahearn, supra, relied upon by the majority, is distinguishable. The issue in the case under discussion does not relate to either (1) consideration of some aggravating factors not supported by the evidence or (2) the discretionary task of weighing mitigating and aggravating factors to increase or reduce sentences from the presumptive term. The trial court has no discretion to even consider evidence necessary to prove an element of the offense in aggravation according to the clear terms of G.S. 15A-1340.4. Therefore, the rationale of Ahearn is inapplicable to the question presented in this case. I would hold that consideration of evidence necessary to prove an element of the offense to prove any factor in aggravation violates the intent and spirit of basic fairness of the Fair Sentencing Act and is therefore, reversible per se. See Judge Wells’ dissenting opinion in State v. Ahearn, supra.
It is my opinion that the cases should be remanded for a new hearing to determine an appropriate sentence.