Court Opinion

ID: 9548937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:10:53.9399+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:19:39.329345
License: Public Domain

BRETT, Judge
(concurs in part and dissents in part).
I concur that there was sufficient evidence before the jury to find the defendant *1376guilty of unlawful distribution of LSD, and that under the circumstances of this case the information was properly filed; but I respectfully dissent to that part of the majority decision which authorizes the use of the convictions sustained by the defendant when he was sixteen years old to enhance punishment.
. I believe further that the trial court committed error when the jury was instructed on the second stage of the proceedings ; consequently, the prosecution failed to meet its burden of showing the sufficiency of the former convictions. The jury was left to presume, and this Court is asked to further presume from a silent record, that defendant’s former convictions were proper. “Presuming waiver from a silent record is impermissible.” Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 82 S.Ct. 884, 8 L.Ed.2d 70.
The record before this Court reflects that defendant testified on cross-examination that he was convicted on two charges of grand larceny when he was sixteen years old. At the time the court instructed the jury that the testimony was being admitted only to test defendant’s credibility. However, at the second stage of the trial the court instructed the jury, “The defendant admits in open court the prior convictions so no evidence will be presented to you to establish this fact and you are to take as admitted facts such convictions.” Consequently, the prosecutor did not introduce the judgments and sentences or make any showing that the defendant was represented by counsel or properly waived counsel at the time, or that the pleas of guilty were knowingly and intelligently entered. All that was shown was that the defendant admitted the convictions, and that he was sixteen years of age when he entered his pleas of guilty.
Likewise, I believe this decision should be held in abeyance until the Tenth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals resolves the question of retroactivity of Lamb v. Brown, 10 Cir., 456 F.2d 18 (1973). That Court presently has before it on rehearing its consolidated decision in Radcliff v. Anderson, No. 73-1520, and Stringfield v. Grider, No. 73-1550. In the original decision, whioh was withdrawn, that Court commented “The statement that its ruling should not apply retroactively, see [Lamb v. Brown] 456 F.2d at 20, is dictum which arises no higher than ‘comment merely obiter.’ ” and held that “basic fairness” plus “essential justice” require that the Lamb decision be applied retroactively. Should the Honorable Circuit Court maintain that position on rehearing, the question which this majority decision purports to settle, and others pertaining to juvenile convictions, will again become viable. Therefore, discretion dictates that the majority decision in this appeal is prematurely rendered.
I concur that the conviction for distribution of LSD should be affirmed, but I dissent to the enhancement of punishment on the juvenile convictions, and would modify the sentence imposed.