Dеfendant appeals his sentence for hindering prosecution. ORS 162.325.
1
He contends that the trial court erred when it imposed an upward dispositional departure sentence.
2
“We review to determine whether the court’s findings of fact and reasons justifying thе departure are supported by the evidence in the record and constitute substantial and compelling reasons to depart as a matter of law. ORS 138.222(3)[.]”
State v. Watkins,
In September 1998, the victim, defendant, Earl Carnahan, and Gregory Faulkner were drinking beer at a campsite near Veneta, Oregon. At some point that evening, Carnahan pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim several times. After the victim fell tо the ground, Carnahan and Faulkner kicked and beat the victim. Defendant did not participate in either the stabbing or the beating but stood by and watched. After Carnahan and Faulkner stopped beating the victim, defendant helped Faulkner drag his body into a nearby area of overgrown brush. Defendant and Faulkner then removed some of the victim’s clothing and stole some
cash from his wallet. Subsequently, defendant obtained some clean clothes for both himself and Carnahan, whose clothes were covered in blood. Defendant was apprehended and confessed. Faulkner and Carnahan were arrested
Defendant was indicted for hindering prosecution and pled guilty to that charge. No negotiations were made as to sentencing. When defendant entered a guilty plea, the state informed the court that it would ask for a departure sentence. At sentencing, both parties agreed that defendant was a grid block 6-1 offender, which carried a presumptive probationary sentence. The trial court imposed an upward dispositional departure sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment with 36 months’ post-prison supervision. In doing so, the court cited three aggravating factors: (1) deliberate cruelty tо the victim, OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(A); (2) permanent injury to the victim, OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(I); and (3) the degree of harm or loss attributed to the current crime of conviction was significantly greater than typical for such an offense, OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(J). In imposing the upward departure, the sentencing court reasoned that
“thе ultimate hindering prosecution, I suppose, is hindering the prosecution in aiding in the concealment of a homicide. It’s cеrtainly different than hiding out a thief or throwing away drugs. * * *.
“I’m going to sentence you to a dispositional departure of 18 months based on aggravating factors [OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(A), OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(I), and OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(J)]. Post-prison supervision of three years.”
Defendant appeals that departure sentencе. He argues that the court erred when it utilized the “permanent injury to victim” and “deliberate cruelty to victim” sentencing factors bеcause they are not relevant to the crime of hindering prosecution. He also argues that the court erred in utilizing the “grеater harm than typical” sentencing factor.
A sentencing court may depart from a presumptive sentence when it has substantial and compelling reasons to do so. OAR 213-008-0001;
Watkins,
“(a) Any evidence received during the proceeding;
“(b) The presentence report, where one is available; and
“(c) Any other evidence relevant to aggravation or mitigation that the court finds trustworthy and reliable.”
However, “[i]f the sentencing judge departs from the presumptive sentence, the judge shall state on the record at the time of sentеncing the substantial and compelling reasons for the departure.” OAR 213-008-0001.
Here, the trial court did not make a finding that any one of thе factors it found would suffice to support a departure.
State v. Williams,
The court found the aggravating factor of OAR 213-008-0002(l)(b)(I) resulted in permanent injury to the victim. The indictment charged dеfendant as follows:
“The defendant on or about the 24th day of September, 1998, in the county aforesaid, did unlawfully and with intent to hinder the аpprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of a person who has committed a crime punishable as a felony, suppress by an act of concealment, alteration or destruction [of] physical evidence which might аid in the discovery or apprehension of such person and did aid such person in securing or protecting the proceeds of the crime[.]” (Emphasis added.)
Because Faulkner and Carnahan aсtually killed the victim, the fact that defendant concealed the victim’s body, destroyed physical evidence, and securеd proceeds of the crime by stealing money from the victim’s body did not result in any permanent injury to the victim. Thus, the trial court erred in rеlying upon that factor to depart. Because
Conviction affirmed; remanded for resentencing.
Notes
ORS 162.325 provides, in part:
“(1) A person commits the crime of hindering prosecution if, with intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of a person who has committed a crime punishаble as a felony, or with the intent to assist a person who has committed a crime punishable as a felony in profiting or benеfiting from the commission of the crime, the person:
“(e) Suppresses by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction physical evidence which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or
“(f) Aids such person in seсuring or protecting the proceeds of the crime.”
Defendant also argues that the state failed to plead the three aggravating sentencing factors in the sentencing instrument and prove them to a factfinder beyond a reasonable doubt. We do not address that issue because it was not preserved, and defendant conceded as much.
