Court Opinion

ID: 4540192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-09 21:03:47.616946+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:09.341492
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

STATE OF DELAWARE                                      )
                                                       )
                                                       )
           v.                                          )       I.D. No. 1811015215
                                                       )
                                                       )
KAISHIRA J. BURTON,                                    )
                                                       )
                Defendant.                             )

                                                 ORDER

                                  Submitted: March 4, 20201
                                    Decided: June 3, 2020

       AND NOW TO WIT, this 3rd day of June, 2020,2 upon consideration of

Defendant Kaishira J. Burton’s (“Defendant”) Motion for Modification of Sentence,

the sentence imposed upon the Defendant, and the record in this case, it appears to

the Court that:

1
  The United States of America and the State of Delaware declared states of emergency due to
COVID-19. As a result, per Administrative Directives of the Supreme Court of the State of
Delaware and the Delaware Superior Court, and the national and local states of emergency,
“[e]xcept as set forth in 10 Del. C. § 2007(c), deadlines in court rules or state or local statutes and
ordinances applicable to the judiciary that expire between March 23, 2020 and June 13, 2020 are
extended through July 1, 2020.” Administrative Order No. 6 Extension of Judicial Emergency
(Del. May. 14, 2020); see also Standing Order No. 6 Concerning COVID-19 Precautionary
Measures (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 15, 2020).
2
  The United States of America and the State of Delaware declared states of emergency due to
COVID-19. As a result, per Administrative Directives of the Supreme Court of the State of
Delaware and the Delaware Superior Court, and the national and local states of emergency,
“[e]xcept as set forth in 10 Del. C. § 2007(c), deadlines in court rules or state or local statutes and
ordinances applicable to the judiciary that expire between March 23, 2020 and June 13, 2020 are
extended through July 1, 2020.” Administrative Order No. 6 Extension of Judicial Emergency
(Del. May. 14, 2020); see also Standing Order No. 6 Concerning COVID-19 Precautionary
Measures (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 15, 2020).
       1.     On May 20, 2019, Defendant pled guilty to two counts of Drug

Dealing.3 On the same day, she was sentenced to a sum of two years at Level V

followed by transitioning levels of probation in Crest and Crest Aftercare programs.4

       2.     On January 30, 2020,5 Defendant filed this, her second,6 Motion for

Modification of Sentence under Superior Court Criminal Rule 35(b).7 In her motion,

Defendant requests that the Court modify her Level IV sentence from Level IV Crest

to Level IV Work Release followed by TASC Consulting.8 In support of her motion,

Defendant states the following grounds for relief: (1) Defendant feels “immense

guilt” for her actions and “recognize[es] the error in [her] ways . . . [;]” (2) Defendant

will continue to maintain “good behavior” and continue her education; (3) Defendant

believes “the treatment module” offered by Crest “will hinder [her rehabilitation]

3
  Final Case Review: Defendant Guilty/Sentenced, State of Delaware v. Kaishira J. Burton, Crim.
ID No. 1811015215, D.I. 17 (Del. Super. Ct. May 20, 2019) [hereinafter “Def.’s Plea”].
4
  Defendant received the following sentences: (1) For the first Drug Dealing charge, eight years
at Level V, suspended after two years at Level V, for one year at Level IV Crest, suspended after
successful completion, for eighteen months at Level III Crest Aftercare; and (2) for the second
Drug Dealing charge, fifteen years at Level V, suspended for eighteen months at Level III
probation. Sentence: ASOP Order Signed and Filed on 05/21/2019, State of Delaware v. Kaishira
J. Burton, Crim. ID No. 1811015215, D.I. 18 (Del. Super. Ct. May 20, 2019) [hereinafter “Def.’s
Sentence”]. Defendant’s Level V time runs consecutively and probation runs concurrently. Id.
5
  Defendant’s Motion for Modification of Sentence was not docketed and received by this Court
until March 4, 2020.
6
  Defendant filed a previous Motion for Modification of Sentence. Motion for Modification of
Sentence (Letter) Filed Pro Se, State of Delaware v. Kaishira J. Burton, Crim. ID No. 1811015215,
D.I. 19 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 20, 2019).
7
  Defendant’s Motion for Modification of Sentence, State of Delaware v. Kaishira J. Burton, Crim.
ID No. 1811015215, D.I. 21 (Del. Super. Ct. Mar. 4, 2020) [hereinafter “Def.’s Mot.”]; see DEL.
SUPER. CT. CRIM. R. 35(b).
8
  Def.’s Mot. at pages 5-6.
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process” because it “does not allow employment until the final phase[;]” and (4)

Work Release will “add structure, splitting [her] time between work and a program

within [her] community.”9

       3.      Defendant’s sentence was imposed pursuant to a Plea Agreement

between the State and Defendant.10             After an appropriate colloquy, the Court

addressed Defendant in open court pursuant to Superior Court Criminal Rule

11(c)(1) and determined that she understood the nature of the charge to which the

plea was offered. Defendant fully acknowledged in open court that the range of

possible penalties included the sentence imposed by the Court in this case.

       4.      Under Superior Court Criminal Rule 35(b), “[t]he Court may . . . reduce

the . . . term or conditions of partial confinement or probation, at any time.”11

Defendant is not time-barred because she does not seek to modify or reduce her

Level V sentence, but rather requests a modification of her probation.

       5.      However, Superior Court Criminal Rule 35(b) also provides that “[t]he

court will not consider repetitive requests for reduction of sentence.”12 A motion is

considered repetitive when it “is preceded by an earlier Rule 35(b) motion, even if

the subsequent motion raises new arguments.”13 The bar to repetitive motions has

9
  Def.’s Mot. at pages 4-5.
10
   See DEL. SUPER. CT. CRIM. R. 11(e); see also Def.’s Plea.
11
   SUPER. CT. CRIM. R. 35(b).
12
   Id. (emphasis added).
13
   State v. Culp, 152 A.3d 141, 144 (Del. 2016).
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no exception. It is absolute and flatly “prohibits repetitive requests for reduction of

sentence.”14 The repetitive motion bar is applicable even when the request is for

reduction or modification of a term of partial confinement or probation.15 Therefore,

where Defendant has previously submitted a Motion for Modification, and where

such motion was previously denied,16 this second Rule 35(b) motion is also barred

as repetitive. The Court cannot use its discretion to ignore this bar.17

       6.      As was noted in this Court’s previous order denying Defendant’s

request for modification, this Court specifically sought this route of treatment for

Defendant, including Crest and Crest Aftercare based on Defendant’s history. 18

However, where the Department of Correction (“DOC”) has requested that courts

refrain from sentencing defendants to specific treatment programs within DOC, the

Court defers to DOC to determine the appropriateness of the Level IV Crest

14
   Thomas v. State, 812 A.2d 900, 2002 WL 31681804, at *1 (Del. 2002) (TABLE). See also
Jenkins v. State, 954 A.2d 910, 2008 WL 2721536, at *1 (Del. 2008) (TABLE) (affirming the
Superior Court’s denial of defendant’s Rule 35(b) motion for modification where Rule 35(b)
“prohibits the filing of repetitive sentence reduction motions.”); Morrison v. State, 846 A.2d 238,
2004 WL 716773, at *2 (Del. 2004) (TABLE) (finding that defendant’s Rule 35(b) motion for
modification “was repetitive, which also precluded its consideration by the Superior Court.”).
15
   See Teat v. State, 31 A.3d 77, 2011 WL 4839042, at *1 (Del. 2011) (TABLE); see also State v.
Weidlow, 2015 WL 1142583, at *1–2 (Del. Super. Ct. Mar. 11, 2015); see also State v. Bennett,
2015 WL 1746239, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 13, 2015).
16
   See Order Denying Defendant’s Motion for Modification of Sentence, State of Delaware v.
Kaishira J. Burton, Crim. ID No. 1811015215, D.I. 20 (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 15, 2019).
17
   State v. Culp, 152 A.3d 141, 145 (Del. 2016) (reversing the Superior Court’s decision to grant
defendant’s Motion for Modification where the motion was repetitive and untimely).
18
   Defendant’s Sentence called for Defendant to be evaluated for substance abuse and follow
recommendation for treatment, counseling, and screening. See Def.’s Sentence; see also See Order
Denying Defendant’s Motion for Modification of Sentence, State of Delaware v. Kaishira J.
Burton, Crim. ID No. 1811015215, D.I. 20 (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 15, 2019).
                                                4
      sentence. Defendant’s sentence is modified to one year at Level IV DOC Discretion,

      whereby DOC may determine the appropriate Level IV placement. Defendant’s

      Level III placement can be re-evaluated upon any changes in Defendant’s Level IV

      placement by DOC. The remainder of Defendant’s sentence is appropriate for all

      the reasons stated at the time of sentencing.

            IT IS SO ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Modification of Sentence

      is GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part.

                                                        /s/ Vivian L. Medinilla
                                                        Vivian L. Medinilla
oc: Prothonotary                                        Judge
cc: Defendant
Department of Justice
Investigative Services

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