246 P.3d 998
Kan. Ct. App.2011Background
- Lackey pled guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine (06CR1017 and 07CR1091) under a plea agreement.
- The State dismissed other charges and agreed to a sentencing reduction in 06CR1017.
- PSI reports concluded a criminal history score of C (one person felony and one or more nonperson felonies).
- Lackey challenged the criminal history score; district court denied the challenge.
- Lackey moved to withdraw his pleas before sentencing; the court denied this motion; sentencing occurred.
- District court sentenced Lackey to 24 months in 06CR1017 (with a 6-month reduction) and a 24-month durational departure in 07CR1091; sentences run consecutively due to Lackey’s status while on felony bond.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether municipal ordinance violations from Missouri can be scored as Kansas criminal history | Lackey—out-of-state municipal convictions cannot be classified as felonies or misdemeanors. | Lackey argues Missouri treats these as civil/quasi-criminal, so they cannot be used for criminal history. | Yes; district court properly scored them as comparable to Kansas person misdemeanor convictions under KSGA. |
| Whether the district court erred in denying the pre-sentence motion to withdraw the plea | Lackey asserts mutual mistake about his criminal history score supports withdrawal. | Court should apply Edgar factors; no abuse of discretion. | No abuse; district court properly applied Edgar factors and denied withdrawal. |
| Whether using Lackey's criminal history to sentence without jury proof violated Apprendi/centered Sixth Amendment rights | Lackey argues history used to sentence under guidelines without jury finding. | Kansas Supreme Court precedent (Ivory) permits it. | Affirmed; Sixth/Fourteenth Amendment issue resolved against Lackey in light of precedent. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Hernandez, 24 Kan. App. 2d 285, 944 P.2d 188 (1997) (out-of-state municipal convictions scored to determine criminal history as felonies)
- State v. Swilley, 25 Kan. App. 2d 492, 967 P.2d 339 (1998) (continued application of Hernandez approach)
- State v. Schow, 287 Kan. 529, 197 P.3d 825 (2008) (mutual mistake and Edgar factors governing pre-sentencing withdrawal)
- State v. Edgar, 281 Kan. 30, 127 P.3d 986 (2006) (Edgar factors for withdrawal of plea before sentencing)
- State v. Plotner, 290 Kan. 774, 235 P.3d 417 (2010) (abuse-of-discretion standard for withdrawal rulings)
- State v. Gumfory, 281 Kan. 1168, 135 P.3d 1191 (2006) (standard for reviewing pre-sentencing withdrawal decisions)
- State v. White, 289 Kan. 279, 211 P.3d 805 (2009) (burden on defendant to show error in sentencing procedures)
- State v. Ivory, 273 Kan. 44, 41 P.3d 781 (2002) (Apprendi-type issue resolved against defendant in Kansas)
- Hernandez, 24 Kan. App. 2d 285, 944 P.2d 188 (1997) (statutory construction to score out-of-state convictions when no designation by convicting jurisdiction)
- Swilley, 25 Kan. App. 2d 492, 967 P.2d 339 (1998) (follow-on case applying Hernandez)
