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State v. SwaringenState v. Swaringen

Supreme Court of South Carolina
Dec 29, 1980
21352
Reporters:
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Per Curiam:

Appellant plead guilty to an indictment charging him with assault and battery with intent to kill and was sentenced ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‍to ten (10) years’ imprisonment. He additionally plead guilty to attempting to obtain possession of a controlled substance by fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and was sentenced to three (3) years’ imprisonment. The sentences were to run concurrently.

Appellant alleges ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‍that the three (3) year sentence exceeds that authorized by operation of S. C. Code §§ 44-53-390(a) (3) (b) and 44-53-420. We agree.

S. C. Code § 44-53-390(a) (3) make it unlawful for a person to knowingly or intentionally acquire or obtain ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‍possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, *511forgery, deception or subterfuge and by operation of subsection (b) imposes a maximum penalty or imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‍Where the conviction is for attempt, the maximum penalty which can be imposed is one-half the punishment prescribed for the offense. S. C. Code § 44-53-420.

As appellant’s sentence exceeded that authorized by S. C. Code § 44-53-420, that sentence is vacated, ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‍and the case is remanded for resentencing consistent with the above provisions. In all other respects, the convictions are affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Swaringen
Court Name: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Date Published: Dec 29, 1980
Citations: 273 S.E.2d 339; 275 S.C. 509; 1980 S.C. LEXIS 505; 21352
Docket Number: 21352
Court Abbreviation: S.C.
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