Foster v. State

651 So. 2d 1102, 1994 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 231, 1994 WL 264866
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedJune 17, 1994
DocketCR 93-630
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 651 So. 2d 1102 (Foster v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Foster v. State, 651 So. 2d 1102, 1994 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 231, 1994 WL 264866 (Ala. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

BOWEN, Presiding Judge.

Paul David Foster, the appellant, was convicted of first degree rape, first degree sodomy, and second degree kidnapping. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, 15 years’ imprisonment, and 5 years’ imprisonment, respectively, with the sentences to run concurrently. He raises two issues on this direct appeal from those convictions.

I

The appellant contends his original sentence as a first time offender was improperly set aside so that the trial court could sentence him as a habitual felony offender.

On November 9, 1993, a jury found the appellant guilty and the trial court adjudicated the appellant guilty in accordance with the verdict of the jury. R. 206. After that adjudication, the trial court stated: “The State is advised that if the State intends to insist upon any enhancements under the Habitual [Felony] Offender Act, that it must promptly notify the defendant and his counsel, furnishing them with what the State intends to rely on.” R. 207. There was no further mention of the Habitual Felony Offender Act until after the trial court had imposed sentence upon the appellant.

Sentencing was held on December 17, 1993. The record reflects the following:

“COURT: ... Before I pronounce sentence upon you, ... do you have anything to say before the court pronounces sentence?
“PAUL FOSTER: No, sir.
“[The prosecutor and the judge discuss the sentence received by a codefendant.]
“COURT: Do you have anything further to say before the court pronounces sentence upon you?
“PAUL FOSTER: No, sir.
“COURT: You were found guilty of kidnapping in the second degree and it is the judgment and sentence of the court that you are guilty of kidnapping in the second degree pursuant to that guilty verdict, and the judgment and sentence of the court is that you be and are ordered to be imprisoned in the penitentiary of the State of Alabama for a period of five years.
“As to the charge of rape in the first degree, pursuant to the verdict of the jury, the court finds you are guilty of rape in the first degree, and it is the judgment and sentence of the court that you be and are hereby sentenced to the penitentiary of the State of Alabama for a period often years.
“As to the charge of sodomy in the first degree, pursuant to the verdict of the jury, the court finds you are guilty of sodomy in the first degree, and it is the judgment and sentence of the court that you be and are hereby ordered to be imprisoned in the penitentiary of the State of Alabama for a total of 12 years. I will order that all of those sentences will run concurrently].
“In addition, you will be ordered to pay, and court-ordered monies will be a condition of any early release, supervised intensive conditions o[r] any other programs, you will be ordered to pay all court costs, one thousand dollars to the Victims’ Compensation Fund, reimburse the State of Alabama for the costs and expense of your court-appointed attorney.
“Now, have you seen the probation report?
[1104]*1104“JOHN GUNN [defense counsel]: I have, your Honor.
“COURT: Do you have anything to say in regard to that report?
“JOHN GUNN: No, judge.
“COURT: Anybody have anything they wish to offer?
“BYRON HOLLIS [assistant district attorney]: Yes, your Honor, in regard to the sentence, Mr. .Foster has a prior conviction, so the Habitual Offender Act would apply. Which, with regard to the Class A felonies, would make it a minimum 15-year sentence.
“COURT: Wait just a minute, you haven’t offered anything of that nature.
“JOHN GUNN: I would object, the sentence has been imposed.
“COURT: I withdraw it. Have you furnished them with copies of that?
“BYRON HOLLIS: Yes sir, we have.
“COURT: Then why didn’t you speak up? Why did you wait until I finished?
“BYRON HOLLIS: I was waiting for an opportunity to break in. I didn’t want to interrupt the court.
COURT: Have you been furnished copies of these things?
“JOHN GUNN: Yes sir, I have.
“COURT: All right, then I’m going to give you an opportunity to offer them.
“BYRON HOLLIS: Yes, sir. State would offer as a matter of proof a certified copy of a transcript in case number CC-90-07 through the Circuit Court of Randolph County, a conviction for burglary in the third degree against the defendant, Paul David Foster. He was given a sentence of three years, on 10-1-90.
“COURT: Have you seen copies of this?
“JOHN GUNN: I have, judge.
“COURT: Do you have anything to offer in connection with this?
“JOHN GUNN: No opposition to that judge, we are aware that it is a correct copy and that it did occur.
“COURT: All right, it will be admitted. Do you have anything else to offer?
“BYRON HOLLIS: No sir, that is all we have to offer.
“COURT: All right. The kidnapping in the second degree, which is a Class C, only is enhanced to B, so the sentence of five years uñll remain the same.
“In regard to rape in the first degree, because of the Habitual Offender Act, [it is the] judgment and sentence of the court that you be and hereby are sentenced to be imprisoned in the penitentiary of the State of Alabama for a period of fifteen years.
“In sodomy one, which is a Class A, and in view of the prior conviction, it is the judgment and sentence of the court that you be and are hereby ordered to be imprisoned in the penitentiary of the State of Alabama for a period of fifteen years. The Court will order those sentences to run concurrently.
The other part of the sentencing regarding the thousand dollar Victims Compensation Fund [assessment] will remain the same and the court costs and the reimbursement to the State of Alabama for the costs and expense of your court-appointed attorney.
“JOHN GUNN: I’m retained, Judge.
“COURT: All right, that part will come off, but the rest will remain the same. Your application for probation is denied.” R. 208-12 (emphasis added).

In Ex parte Williams, 510 So.2d 135 (Ala.1987), the Alabama Supreme Court stated the legal principles governing the application of the Habitual Felony Offender Act:

“As contended by Williams, the Habitual Felony Offender Act is not ‘self-executing.’ Rule 6 of the Temporary Rules of Criminal Procedure, supra,

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Related

Moore v. State
739 So. 2d 530 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama, 1998)

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Bluebook (online)
651 So. 2d 1102, 1994 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 231, 1994 WL 264866, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/foster-v-state-alacrimapp-1994.