State v. BarksdaleState v. Barksdale
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Eubank
OPINION
EUBANK, Judge.
This is an appeal by the Yuma County Attorney (State) from the sentences imposed against the appellee where the State contends that the sentences are illegal.
The record shows that appellee pled guilty to the DWI charge on the basis of a plea agreement. In consideration for his guilty plea, another felony DWI charge in case No. 11832 was dismissed, and the State agreed that it would not allege any prior felony convictions. The record further shows that appellant was represented by counsel throughout these proceedings; that he understood the plea and the rights that he was waiving by his plea; and that a factual basis for his plea exists on the record in that appellee admitted that he was driving the motorcycle with a suspended license while intoxicated. As this hearing concluded, appellee and appellee’s counsel decided to admit probation violations in Yuma County Case Nos. 10365 and 10397. He pled guilty to violations in both cases, and the probation disposition hearings were set for the same time as sentencing in this case. At the sentencing hearing, the trial judge revoked appellee’s probation in case Nos. 10365 and 10397 and sentenced appellee as follows:
1. In the case sub judice: 2 years committed to prison.
2. In case No. 10397: 5 years committed to prison.
3. In case No. 10365: IV2 years committed to prison.
4. All sentences were ordered to be served concurrently.
The State argues that under the above circumstances
FormerA.R.S. § 13-604.01(B) reads: 1
B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a person convicted of any felony offense not included in subsection A of this section if committed while the person is on probation, parole, work furlough or any other release shall be sentenced to a term of not less than the presumptive sentence authorized for the offense, and the person is not eligible for suspension or commutation of sentence, probation, pardon, parole, work furlough or release from confinement on any other basis except as specifically authorized by § 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served. A sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be consecutive to any other sentence from which the convicted person had been temporarily released. (Emphasis added).
This statute was enacted by the legislature in 1982. (Laws of 1982, ch. 322). The title to the act states, in part, that its subjects are “prescribing mandatory confinement for certain offenses; prescribing mandatory and consecutive sentences; ... amending title 13, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-604.-01____” A reading of chapter 322 clearly indicates that the legislature intended to strengthen the sentencing law by requiring the trial court to sentence a defendant, who *468 was on probation for a felony violation and who commits another felony, to incarceration which is consecutive to “any other sentence from which the convicted person had been temporarily released.”
Appellee argues that he had not received any other sentence since his sentences were suspended and he was placed on probation. He further argues that he had not been “temporarily released” since he had not been incarcerated in the first place. Thus, he argues that since his sentences were suspended and he was placed on probation, former
Turning to appellee’s argument that he was not “temporarily released” while on probation, in our opinion the legislature intended to include appellee within the ambit of
Probation is a matter of legislative grace. It is a sentencing alternative which a court may use in its sound judicial discretion when the rehabilitation of the defendant can be accomplished with restrictive freedom rather than imprisonment. The court can surround probation with restrictions and requirements which a defendant must follow to retain his probationary status. Revocation, and consequential loss of freedom, is considered when charges are made that one or more of the conditions of probation have been violated. The court’s concern at a revocation hearing is primarily to determine whether probation is still an effective means of rehabilitation and a sufficient deterrent against future crime.
We agree with the appellee and the trial court, however, that a suspended sentence resulting in probation does not constitute a “sentence” as that term is used in the last sentence of
Probation is not a sentence but rather a feature of suspension of imposition of sentence. State v. Risher____ Thus incarceration as a part of probation is not a sentence of confinement but simply one of the conditions which is established at the time sentence is suspended.
118 Ariz. at 262, 576 P.2d at 121.
Thus, the trial judge was entirely correct in his initial view of the law. However, at the same sentencing hearing, appellee was also sentenced to imprisonment for his probation violations. In our opinion, where the trial judge sentences a defendant for a felony offense, and at the same hearing, or prior thereto, sentences the same defendant for probation violations,
This conclusion, however, raises another problem.
The judgment and sentence are reversed. This matter is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion, including appellee’s option to withdraw from the plea agreement and his guilty plea.
BROOKS and GREER, JJ., concur.
Notes
. This statute was amended subsequent to sentencing. See Laws of 1983, ch. 32.