Price v. State, 819 So. 2d 82

Price v. State

819 So. 2d 82 | Ala. Crim. App. | 2000

Darren Dewayne Price was convicted of escape in the third degree, a violation of § 13A-10-33, Ala. Code 1975, and of resisting arrest, a violation of § 13A-10-41, Ala. Code 1975. In a separate unpublished memorandum, we are today affirming Price's conviction for escape in the third degree. Price does not challenge his conviction for resisting arrest or the sentence imposed. However, because Price's one-year sentence for resisting arrest exceeds the maximum authorized by law, we must remand this cause to the trial court for resentencing. "Matters concerning unauthorized sentences are jurisdictional and, therefore, can be reviewed even if they have not been preserved." Hunt v. State,659 So.2d 998, 999 (Ala.Crim.App. 1994). Therefore, we may take notice of an illegal sentence even though Price did not raise the issue in the trial court or in his brief to this Court. See, e.g., Pender v. State,740 So.2d 482 (Ala.Crim.App. 1999). Resisting arrest is a Class B misdemeanor, see § 13A-10-41(b), Ala. Code 1975, punishable by imprisonment for "not more than six months." § 13A-5-7(a)(2), Ala. Code 1975. Price was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for resisting arrest; that sentence exceeds the maximum authorized by law and is, therefore, void. See, e.g., Ferguson v. State, 565 So.2d 1172, 1173 (Ala.Crim.App. 1990) ("When the court imposes a sentence in excess of that authorized by statute, it exceeds its jurisdiction, and the sentence is consequently void.").

Accordingly, we remand this cause to the trial court with directions for that court to resentence Price for the resisting-arrest conviction in accordance with § 13A-5-7, Ala. Code 1975. Due return should be filed with this Court no later than 28 days from the date of this opinion.

AFFIRMED BY MEMORANDUM AS TO CONVICTION AND SENTENCE FOR THIRD-DEGREE ESCAPE; REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS AS TO SENTENCING FOR RESISTING ARREST.

Long, P.J., and McMillan, Baschab, and Fry, JJ., concur. *83