Court Opinion

ID: 9582231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:24:03.085327+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:33.987572
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice,
dissenting.
I regret that I must dissent.
Just last year we stated:
pursuant to statute presentence incarceration time may be applied only once, and once applied, may not be applied again. How this will be applied in the case of multiple convictions is up to the sentencing judge. In the instant case, for example, the trial court could have given the defendant credit for the 130 days presentence incarceration to one count of robbery but not to both. The court could have also divided the presentence incarceration between the two robbery sentences, for example, 65 days credit for each of the two convictions. In no event, however, may the credit for presentence incarceration be applied twice.
State v. Wallis, 132 Ariz. 445, 447, 646 P.2d 876, 878 (1982). Today this court overrules Wallis contending that Wallis is contrary to the holdings in State v. Warde, 116 Ariz. 598, 570 P.2d 766 (1977) and State v. Sutton, 21 Ariz.App. 550, 521 P.2d 1008 (1974). First, I do not believe, as the majority opinion contends, that Wallis, supra, is contrary to Warde, supra, and Sutton, supra. In State v. Warde, supra, the defendant was sentenced to consecutive terms for two offenses. The court did not give credit for his presentence incarceration. Because the sentences were served consecutively, we held that he must be given credit as to one of the consecutive sentences, but not as to both. We stated:
The consecutive sentences of not less than two and one-half nor more than five years imposed by the trial court on each count are affirmed. By the authority granted us in A.R.S. [§ 13-4037] we modify the sentence in Cause No. CR 93169 to give the appellant credit for presentence incarceration, and the sentence in the above cause number shall date from April 13, 1976.
State v. Warde, supra, 116 Ariz. at 601, 570 P.2d at 769. Admittedly, the majority does agree with Warde that credit for presentence custody need be given to only one of the consecutive sentences.
In State v. Sutton, supra, the Court of Appeals stated:
In short, we hold that while presentence incarceration may not qualify as “punishment” under A.R.S. § 13-1652, it amounts to an infringement of freedom and deprivation of liberty and when added to the maximum deprivation of liberty allowed by law results in a denial of equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
State v. Sutton, supra, 21 Ariz.App. at 552, 521 P.2d at 1010. Sutton requires only that if a defendant is sentenced to the maximum punishment the statute allows, he must be given credit for presentence incarceration as to that sentence. With this I do not disagree, but I do not read Sutton to require that if the defendant is given two *377maximum sentences he must be given presentence credit for both sentences, any more than the defendant would be entitled to presentence credit for both consecutive maximum sentences.
The position of the majority can only add to confusion in sentencing, particularly as is often the case the defendant is “arrested” for more than one offense at different times, sometimes while in custody on a previous charge, and is then tried and sentenced at different times.
In short, I do not believe the statute or our rules require the judge to give “two for one” credit for presentence incarceration.
HOLOHAN, Chief Justice, concurring.
I concur in the dissent of Justice Cameron.