State v. Thiesies, 662 P.2d 797

YOUNG, J.

Defendant’s only contention in this criminal case is that the trial court erred in imposing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years under ORS 161.610. The question presented is the viability of our decision in State v. Owens, 58 Or App 739, 650 P2d 124 (1982), after the Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Wedge, 293 Or 598, 652 P2d 773 (1982).

Defendant was convicted of robbery in the first degree and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. The court imposed a mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to ORS 161.610, even though the court made a specific finding that defendant had not personally possessed the firearm that was used in the commission of the crime. The state argues that the langauge in State v. Wedge, supra, stating that a mandatory minimum sentence under ORS 161.610 is only authorized where the defendant personally possessed and used the firearm, is only a dictum in that case:

“Wedge holds that the facts necessary to impose a minimum sentence under ORS 161.610 must be found by a jury. Dicta in Wedge suggests that imposition of the minimum sentence provided in ORS 161.610 requires that the defendant personally possessed a firearm. However, the issue of what facts must be proven to justify a minimum sentence under ORS 161.610 was not briefed or argued in Wedge and was not resolved by the court. That decision deals only with how facts must be found; it does not address what facts must be found.”

A careful reading of Wedge reveals that that interpretation of ORS 161.610 is essential to the court’s reasoning. The court held that the defendant had been deprived of his right to have the jury, the factfinder in that case, make the determination on which the minimum sentence was imposed, because the court and not the jury had determined that the defendant used or threatened to use a firearm in commission of the crimes with which he was charged. The court stated:

“* * * In State v. Hicks, 38 Or App 97, 589 P2d 1130 (1979), construing a similar statute, former ORS 166.230, the court stated that an enhanced penalty can be given only to a person who has actual physical possession of a gun during the commission of a felony because there is no statutory basis for enhanced penalty based on vicarious liability. We agree with this interpretation. The court would be without authority to sentence defendant if there were no finding he personally used or threatened to use a firearm.” 293 Or at 603-04.

Because the jury in Wedge did find implicitly that a gun had been used by at least one of the three men involved in the criminal episode, there would have been no basis for holding that the defendant had been deprived of his right to a jury trial if use of a gun by one of those involved in the commission of the crime were sufficient to trigger application of ORS 161.610 as to the others involved.

Although the Supreme Court in Wedge did not mention our decision in State v. Owens, supra, distinguishing State v. Hicks, supra, and holding that personal possession of a firearm was not required under ORS 161.610, the court specifically stated that the statute requires personal use or threatened use of a firearm. We must conclude that Owens was overruled sub silentio by Wedge. Therefore, defendant is correct that the trial court here erred in imposing a mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to ORS 161.610 after it had specifically found that defendant did not personally use or threaten to use a firearm.

Judgment of conviction affirmed; remanded for resentencing.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Thiesies

Court Name: Court of Appeals of Oregon

Date Published: May 11, 1983

Citations: 662 P.2d 797; 63 Or. App. 200; 1983 Ore. App. LEXIS 2781; 132,637; CA A26223

Docket Number: 132,637; CA A26223

Court Abbreviation: Or. Ct. App.