484 P.3d 1123
Or. Ct. App.2021Background
- Defendant John Pryor was resentenced after this court reversed one conviction and remanded; at the resentencing hearing the state sought 144 months on Count 6 (second-degree assault) and the court announced an "upward departure" sentence.
- The court issued a temporary sentencing order reflecting 120 months on Count 6, but the June 13, 2019 judgment mistakenly imposed 70 months on that count and described it as an "upward durational departure."
- On February 7, 2020 the trial court entered an amended judgment increasing Count 6 from 70 to 120 months without providing written notice to Pryor or an opportunity to be heard.
- The State concedes the record does not show the required notice and agrees the amendment procedure was flawed, but argues the court may have been invoking ORS 137.172 to correct a clerical error and seeks remand for that determination.
- Pryor argues the amended judgment substantively increased his sentence without notice or waiver and asks for reinstatement of the June 2019 judgment (70 months) per State v. Rossi.
- The court vacated the amended judgments and remanded for proceedings limited to resolving whether the amendment was a permissible clerical correction under ORS 137.172; otherwise the judgment was affirmed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the trial court could enter an amended judgment increasing Count 6 from 70 to 120 months without notice/hearing | State concedes lack of notice but argues the court may have been correcting a clerical error under ORS 137.172 and thus should get a remand to make that showing | Pryor argues the amendment was a substantive, unauthorized increase entered without notice or waiver and the June 2019 judgment (70 months) should be reinstated | Amended judgments vacated and remanded for further proceedings limited to whether the court may correct a clerical error under ORS 137.172; no advance written notice shown, so vacatur required for the amendments |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Nobles, 264 Or App 580 (recognizing requirement of written notice before trial court may amend judgment under authority to correct clerical errors)
- State v. Rossi, 216 Or App 168 (holding court must reinstate original judgment when amended judgment substantively modified sentence without notice)
- State v. Johnson, 242 Or App 279 (discussing common-law rule that trial court loses jurisdiction once a valid sentence is executed and legislative exception permitting clerical corrections)
- State v. Hannemann, 261 Or App 582 (vacating and remanding when court failed to provide written notice before correcting omission in judgment)
- State v. Pryor, 294 Or App 125 (prior appeal reversing one conviction and remanding for resentencing)
