Henry v. State

• Court: Supreme Court of Delaware
• Decided: July 17, 2024
• Docket: 130, 2024
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

KRISTOPHER HENRY, § § No. 130, 2024 Defendant Below, § Appellant, § Court Below–Superior Court § of the State of Delaware v. § § Cr. ID No. 2306010471 (N) STATE OF DELAWARE, § § Appellee. §

Submitted: May 22, 2024 Decided: July 17, 2024

Before TRAYNOR, LEGROW, and GRIFFITHS, Justices.

ORDER

After considering the appellant’s opening brief, the appellee’s motion to

affirm, and the Superior Court record, it appears to the Court that:

(1) The appellant, Kristopher Henry, appeals the Superior Court’s order

sentencing him for a violation of probation (“VOP”). The State has filed a motion

to affirm the judgment below on the ground that it is manifest from the face of

Henry’s opening brief that his appeal is without merit. We agree and affirm.

(2) On September 26, 2023, Henry pleaded guilty to one count of theft of

a motor vehicle. The Superior Court immediately sentenced Henry to two years of

incarceration, suspended for one year of Level III probation. Henry did not appeal

his conviction or sentence. (3) On January 23, 2024, Henry’s probation officer filed a VOP report

alleging that Henry had violated the terms of his probation because he had: (i) failed

to report as directed to his probation officer and (ii) admitted to using cocaine during

the month of December 2023. On March 6, 2024, the Superior Court found that

Henry had violated the terms of his probation and re-sentenced him to two years of

a Level V substance abuse treatment program, suspended after the successful

completion of the program, followed by one year of Level II probation. This appeal

followed.

(4) In his opening brief on appeal, Henry does not dispute that he violated

the terms of his probation. Instead, Henry argues that: (i) the Superior Court should

not have imposed a Level II probationary period because Henry struggles to comply

with the terms and conditions of probation; (ii) the requirement that Henry undergo

substance abuse treatment while at Level V is “excessive” because he does not do

well in treatment programs while incarcerated; and (iii) the Superior Court sentenced

Henry with a closed mind. Henry’s arguments are unavailing.

(5) Our review of a VOP sentence is extremely limited. Once a defendant

has admitted that he violated the terms of his probation, the Superior Court may

impose any period of incarceration up to and including the balance of Level V time

remaining on the original sentence.1 When the sentence falls within statutory limits,

1 11 Del. C. § 4334(c); Pavulak v. State, 880 A.2d 1044, 1046 (Del. 2005). 2 this Court considers only whether the Superior Court relied on false or unreliable

factual predicates, exhibited judicial vindictiveness or bias, or sentenced the

defendant with a closed mind.2 A judge imposes a sentence with a “closed mind”

when the sentence is “based on a preconceived bias without consideration of the

nature of the offense or the character of the defendant.”3

(6) The sentence that the Superior Court imposed for Henry’s VOP is

legal—it does not exceed the balance of the Level V time remaining on Henry’s

original sentence, and the Superior Court had the discretion to impose substance

abuse treatment as a condition of Henry’s sentence.4 Finally, we are satisfied that

the presiding judge did not sentence Henry with a closed mind.5

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to affirm

is GRANTED and the judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.

BY THE COURT:

/s/ Abigail M. LeGrow Justice

2 Kurzmann v. State, 903 A.2d 702, 714 (Del. 2006). 3 Weston v. State, 832 A.2d 742, 746 (Del. 2003). 4 11 Del. C. § 4204(c)(8). 5 See Kurzmann, 903 A.2d at 715 (finding that the record did not support a finding that the Superior Court sentenced the defendant with a closed mind when the court considered the nature of the offense and the defendant’s character when fashioning the defendant’s VOP sentence). We note that Henry filed a motion to modify his VOP sentence, raising similar arguments as he does in this appeal. The Superior Court denied the motion and observed, “I am well aware of your difficulties in complying with your probation terms and conditions. I purposefully put you on Level 2 probation for that reason.” 3