Defendant pleaded guilty of delivery of less than fifty grams of cocaine, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(7401)(2) (a)(iv), a charge carrying a mandatory one- to twenty-year prison tеrm. 1 Under subsection 4 of that statute, the sentencing judge was authorized to depart from the mandatory minimum term for substantial and compelling reasons. 2 Beсause defendant is a repeat drug offender, he is subject to the sentence augmentation provision of the controlled substances act, MCL 333.7413(2); MSA 14.15(7413) (2), under which he "may be imprisoned for a term no more than twice the term otherwise authorized. . . .” Thus, the sentence enhancement provision allows defendant’s statutory mandatory prison term to be raised from one to twenty years to a possible two to forty years. 3 However, the sentencing court sentenced defendant to ten to *231 forty years in prison. 4 Defendant appeals this sentence as of right, and we affirm.
The first issue on appeal is whether the guidelines apply to offenders sentenced under the sentence enhancement provision of § 7413(2), i.e., whether a defendant whose sentence was enhanced under the second- or subsequent-offender provision of the controlled substances act is an "habitual offender” for purposes of the sentencing guidelines. We conclude that such an offender is an habitual offender; therefore the guidelines do not aрply.
This issue was raised in the trial court when defendant moved for resentencing on the grounds now advanced on appeal. The sentencing judge denied the motion on the ground that the instructions for the second edition of the sentencing guidelines specifically state that the- guidelines do not aрply to habitual offenders, an undefined catchall phrase he viewed as being equally applicable to an offender "habitualized” under the Code of Criminal Procedure, i.e., MCL 769.10 - 769.12; MSA 28.1082 - 28.1084, or under the second- or subsequent-offender provision of the controlled substances act, MCL 333.7413(2); MSA 14.15(7413) (2). In addition, the judge pointed out that there is no grid in the sentencing guidelines for drug offenses that shows a statutory maximum of 480 months (forty years), demonstrating that habitual drug offenders were never intended to be sentenced under the guidelines. We agree with the sentencing judge.
The "Basic Information and General Instructions,” paragraph B.3, рrefacing the guidelines, says:_
*232 Even though the Sentencing Guidelines do not apply where an offender is to be sentenced as an habitual offender, the judge must сomplete the SIR on the underlying offense. This information will aid in the development of guidelines to cover habitual offenders [Emphasis supplied.]
Towаrd the end of the instructions, the following paragraph is found:
HABITUAL INFORMATION
The Sentencing Guidelines do not apply to Habitual Offender Convictions. In order to develоp guidelines for Habitual Offenders, the judge must record, on the sir, when the offender is convicted as an habitual offender, the level of conviction, аnd the new statutory maximum. [Emphasis supplied.]
Defendant correctly points out that our Supreme Court has distinguished between sentences imposed under the habitual offender provisions of the Penal Code and those imposed under the habitual offender provisions of the controlled substances act.
People v Eason,
In interpreting the guidelines, we are guided by the rules of statutory construction.
People v Johnson,
The instructions for the sentencing guidelines do not define "habitual offenders.” Nor, аs the sentencing judge astutely recognized, does the word "habitual” or the phrase "habitual offender” appear anywhere in §§ 10-12 of the Code оf Criminal Procedure. Accordingly, in construing the sentencing guidelines instructions, we give the phrase "habitual offender” its ordinary meaning, i.e., an offender who рersists in engaging in criminal activity. This definition fits repeat drug offenders like defendant.
Another rule of statutory construction is that provisions must be read in contеxt so as to produce an harmonious whole.
In re Forfeiture of $5,264,
Additionally, it appears to us most unlikely, for reasons of simple practicality, that the drafters оf the guidelines would have placed repeat offenders convicted under the controlled substances act within the ambit of the guidelines. To have done so would require the sentencing judge to first consider the mandatory prison term, then to determine whether to depart from that mandatory minimum tеrm, while at the same time considering a suggested discretionary sentencing range set forth in the guidelines that would almost invariably be either lower or higher than the mandatory minimum term. A charitable assessment of such a process would describe it as unworkable. We decline to assume that the drafters would have imposed such a problematic process, which in practice would produce unreasonable consequences.
Defendant also contends that the sentence imposed violates the principle of proportionality set forth in
People v Milbourn,
Sir, you are 19 years old. This is your fourth felony. You were only on parole for a month. If you keep this up, then you are going to have a hard life and it is all going to be inside. But, that is . . . that will be your choice, I guess.
Under the circumstances, we see no violation of the principle of proportionality.
Affirmed.
Notes
In exchange for dеfendant’s plea, a separate charge of delivery of less than fifty grams of cocaine with second-offender augmentation was dismissed.
Sеction 7401(4) of the controlled substances act, MCL 333.7401(4); MSA 14.15(7401X4), provides:
The court may depart from the minimum term of imprisonment authorized under subsection (2)(a) . . . (iv) if the сourt finds on the record that there are substantial and compelling reasons to do so.
See
People v Scott,
Because defendant was on parole for a cocaine possession offense at the time he committed this offense, the sentence was imposed to run consecutively to the drug possession sentence.