Court Opinion

ID: 1062634
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:10:36.286886+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:05.485739
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Kelsey, Petty and Senior Judge Bumgardner

ANDY LEWIS RALSTON, S/K/A
 ANDREW LEWIS RALSTON
                                                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v.        Record No. 1624-09-4                                         PER CURIAM
                                                                       JUNE 8, 2010
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

                    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRINCE WILLIAM COUTNY
                                  William D. Hamblen, Judge

                    (John V. Notarianni; Velasquez & Associates, on brief), for
                    appellant. Appellant submitting on brief.

                    (Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General; Alice T. Armstrong,
                    Assistant Attorney General II, on brief), for appellee. Appellee
                    submitting on brief.

          Andy Lewis Ralston argues the trial court erred in finding that he violated the terms and

conditions of his probation and in revoking a previously suspended sentence. Ralston contends he

was already punished for noncompliance with the court-ordered substance abuse program, the

Fairfax County charges were pending at the time of the revocation hearing, and the new Prince

William County charges occurred after the expiration of his probation period. We disagree and

affirm.

          On February 1, 2001, the trial court sentenced Ralston to three years, with two years

suspended, for driving after having been declared an habitual offender. The trial court conditioned

the suspended sentence on several conditions, including the successful completion of a substance

abuse program under the supervision of his probation officer. On December 9, 2008, Ralston’s

          *
              Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
probation officer requested a show cause order because Ralston tested positive for alcohol on the

last day of the court-ordered substance abuse program. The probation officer notified the trial court

that as a sanction, Ralston had to re-enter the program and successfully complete it. The trial court

issued a show cause order on December 16, 2008. According to the probation officer’s letter,

Ralston’s probation was scheduled to expire on January 2, 2009. 1

       In a March 30, 2009 letter, the probation officer notified the trial court that Ralston was

charged with new offenses in Fairfax County on November 20, 2008, and charged with new

offenses in Prince William County on January 8, 2009. In a May 28, 2009 letter, the probation

officer notified the trial court that Ralston entered Alford pleas in Prince William County for

robbery, burglary, and object sexual penetration. Sentencing for the Prince William County charges

was scheduled for October 1, 2009.

       At a revocation hearing on June 12, 2009, Ralston admitted he had alcohol on his breath on

the last day of the substance abuse program. Ralston stated to the trial court that he was seeking to

withdraw his Alford pleas in the Prince William County charges and that he had not been convicted

of the new Fairfax County charges. The trial court continued the revocation hearing for one week to

examine the plea Ralston entered for the Prince William County charges.

       At the reconvened revocation hearing on June 19, 2009, Ralston stated that the Fairfax

County charges had not been adjudicated. Ralston also stated that since he was seeking to withdraw

his Alford plea for the Prince William County charges, those convictions were not final for purposes

of adjudicating a probation violation, which left only the allegation that he had alcohol in his system

on the last day of the substance abuse program. Based upon the content of the probation officer’s

letters, the trial court revoked the balance of the suspended sentence for the habitual offender

conviction.

       1
           Ralston does not argue on appeal that this expiration date was incorrect.
                                                -2-
        After suspending a sentence, a trial court “may revoke the suspension of sentence for any

cause the court deems sufficient . . . .” Code § 19.2-306(A) (emphasis added). The trial court

“‘undoubtedly has the power to revoke [the suspension of a sentence] when the defendant has

failed to comply with the conditions of the suspension.’” Russnak v. Commonwealth, 10
Va. App. 317, 321, 392 S.E.2d 491, 493 (1990) (quoting Griffin v. Cunningham, 205 Va. 349,

354, 136 S.E.2d 840, 844 (1964)).

        “When coupled with a suspended sentence, probation represents ‘an act of grace on the

part of the Commonwealth to one who has been convicted and sentenced to a term of

confinement.’” Price v. Commonwealth, 51 Va. App. 443, 448, 658 S.E.2d 700, 703 (2008)

(quoting Pierce v. Commonwealth, 48 Va. App. 660, 667, 633 S.E.2d 755, 758 (2006)).

“‘Probation is a disposition intended to reform the offender, appropriate in mitigating

circumstances or to promote the public interest. It provides an opportunity for an accused to

repent and reform, which may be withdrawn for reasonable cause, determined in the sound

discretion of the trial court.’” Holden v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 403, 409-10, 494 S.E.2d
892, 895 (1998) (quoting Connelly v. Commonwealth, 14 Va. App. 888, 890, 420 S.E.2d 244,

245 (1992)).

        “‘There is no requirement . . . that the suspension [of sentence] may be revoked only upon

the conviction of a subsequent criminal offense.’” Resio v. Commonwealth, 29 Va. App. 616, 622,

513 S.E.2d 892, 895 (1999) (quoting Slayton v. Commonwealth, 185 Va. 357, 365, 38 S.E.2d 479,

483 (1946)).

        Ralston has failed to demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion in revoking the

suspended sentence. Ralston conceded he violated an express term of his probation by failing to

successfully complete the substance abuse program. This conceded violation was sufficient cause

for the trial court to revoke Ralston’s probation.

                                                     -3-
       Ralston never argued to the trial court that the sanction imposed by the probation officer —

to re-enter the substance abuse program — prevented the trial court from revoking the suspended

sentence. Accordingly, he waived this argument pursuant to Rule 5A:18 and the record does not

reflect any reason to invoke the good cause or ends of justice exceptions to Rule 5A:18. The

evidence proved that Ralston was charged with additional felonies in Fairfax County, which

occurred during the probation period, but had not yet been convicted. However, there is no

requirement that a revocation be based solely on criminal convictions; it may be based upon the

condition of good behavior implicit in every order suspending a sentence. See Marshall v.

Commonwealth, 202 Va. 217, 220-21, 116 S.E.2d 270, 273-74 (1960) (affirming a probation

revocation even though the defendant was acquitted of criminal charges that occurred while he

was on probation).

       Ralston also failed to argue to the trial court that the pending Prince William County charges

occurred after the probation period expired. Instead, Ralston argued to the trial court only that he

was seeking to withdraw his Alford pleas and that he had not yet been sentenced for the charges.

Accordingly, he waived this argument pursuant to Rule 5A:18 and the record does not reflect any

reason to invoke the good cause or ends of justice exceptions to Rule 5A:18. The record

nowhere identifies the dates of the offenses which led to the criminal charges filed in Prince

William County. Nothing in the record, therefore, proves these offenses necessarily occurred

after the expiration of the probationary period.

       No abuse of discretion occurred in this case, and the trial court’s decision revoking the

balance of Ralston’s suspended sentence is affirmed.

                                                                                            Affirmed.

                                                   -4-