Court Opinion

ID: 9665860
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:58:28.611929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:02:56.141655
License: Public Domain

White, J.,
dissenting.
I dissent. I believe that the sentences imposed by the district court were erroneous for a reason distinct from the imposition of concurrent or consecutive sentences. Although this error in sentencing was not addressed by counsel, I would nonetheless find it to be plain error requiring reversal. Plain error may be found on appeal when an error, unasserted or uncomplained of at trial, but plainly evident from the record, prejudicially affects a litigant’s substantial right and, if uncorrected, would cause a miscarriage of justice or damage the integrity and fairness of the judicial process. State v. Thomas, 229 Neb. 635, 428 N.W.2d 221 (1988); In re Estate of Fischer, 227 Neb. 722, 419 N.W.2d 860 (1988).
Subsequent to the filing of the briefs in this case, this court decided State v. Texel, 230 Neb. 810, 433 N.W.2d 541 (1989). In Texel, we held that an intermittent sentence in a criminal case is erroneous, even if consented to by the defendant. The appellant in Texel was convicted of seven counts of violating Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1102 (Reissue 1985), and one count of violating Neb. *246Rev. Stat. § 28-1105 (Cum. Supp. 1986). The appellant was sentenced to pay a fine of $ 1,000 on each of the eight counts and to consecutive 30-day terms of incarceration on each count, to be served intermittently during 20 days of each of the succeeding 12 months. This court stated that intermittent sentences are not permitted, although in State v. Jurgens, 187 Neb. 557, 192 N.W.2d 741 (1971), we had held that if the defendant consented to the intermittent sentence, the sentence could stand. We explicitly rejected that statement in Texel. “[A] sentence is not in the nature of a quasi-contract which a defendant is free to accept or reject. A sentence as imposed either is or is not within a court’s authority and is either legally correct or erroneous.” Texel, supra at 814, 433 N.W.2d at 544.
An argument can be made that Texel and the present case are distinguishable because this case involves sentences of probation and Texel concerned straight jail sentences. However, any distinction is unduly formalistic. It is difficult to imagine a valid reason for distinguishing between jail sentences as conditions of probation and jail sentences in general. The defendant is still in a position of “doing time,” and the logic utilized in reaching our decision in Texel seems equally applicable here.
[W]idely varying the method of serving periods of incarceration increases the likelihood of uneven application of the law to various individuals in our society. Not only is a prisoner entitled to pay his debt to society in one stretch, not in bits and pieces, [citation omitted], but society also has the right to expect that once a defendant has been incarcerated, the time will not be served in bits and pieces.
Texel, supra at 814, 433 N.W.2d at 544.
In the present action, as in Texel, the appellant was sentenced to terms of imprisonment to be served intermittently. It is apparent from a review of the record that the judge imposed these sentences in an attempt to ensure that the appellant was able to continue his education throughout the year. However, regardless of the intentions of the district judge, these sentences cannot stand.
*247It has long been settled in this jurisdiction that when a person is convicted of several distinct offenses and a cumulative sentence is imposed, the judgement should not fix the day on which each successive term of imprisonment should commence, but should direct that each successive term begin immediately following cessation of the presiding term, as the prior term of imprisonment may be shortened by the good behavior of the defendant, by executive clemency, or by a reversal of the judgment. Luke v. State, 123 Neb. 101, 242 N.W. 265 (1932); In re Walsh, 37 Neb. 454, 55 N.W. 1075 (1893).
Because the terms of imprisonment ordered to be served as conditions of probation are intermittent, I would remand the cause to the district court for resentencing in view of our opinion in State v. Texel, supra. Therefore, I dissent.