People v. Terry

791 P.2d 374, 14 Brief Times Rptr. 631, 1990 Colo. LEXIS 342, 1990 WL 61641

• Court: Supreme Court of Colorado
• Decided: May 14, 1990
• Docket: No. 88SA259
• Status: Published

Opinions

Justice VOLLACK

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

The People appeal¹ the Adams County District Court’s sentence of the defendant Alonzo Terry to a term of probation following his conviction of second degree assault by the use of a deadly weapon. The district court ruled that the defendant was not subject to section 16-11-309, 8A C.R.S. (1986), requiring mandatory sentencing for violent crimes, because the court had dismissed the People’s mandatory sentencing count prior to the sentencing hearing. We reverse and remand for resentencing.

I.

On November 2, 1987, the defendant drove to the home of Stephen Meyer. During a quarrel, the defendant threw a bucket of gasoline on Meyer and threatened to light the gasoline. When Meyer fled, the defendant fired a gun two times at him.

The defendant was charged with attempted first degree murder, §§ 18-2-101(1) and 18-3-102(l)(a), 8B C.R.S. (1986), second degree assault, § 18-3-203(l)(b), 8B C.R.S. (1986), and commission of a violent crime, § 16-11-309, 8A C.R.S. (1986). Following a bench trial, the district court judge found the defendant not guilty of attempted first degree murder and guilty of second degree assault with the use of a deadly weapon. After finding the defendant guilty of second degree assault with the use of a deadly weapon, the court granted the prosecutor’s motion to dismiss the violent crimes count.

At the sentencing hearing the prosecutor argued that section 18-3-203, upon which the defendant was convicted, required that the district court impose a violent crimes sentence on the defendant pursuant to section 16-11-309, even though the court granted the prosecutor’s motion to dismiss the violent crimes count. The court ruled that the defendant was not subject to section 16-11-309 after the dismissal of the violent crimes count, and sentenced him to eight years of probation with a condition of probation that he serve sixty days in the county jail.

II.

The issue before the court is whether section 18-3-203 required that the trial court impose a sentence as provided in section 16-11-309 even though the section 16-11-309 count was dismissed prior to sentencing. We conclude that the court was required to impose sentence under section 16-11-309.

Subsection 18 — 3—203(l)(b) provides that a person commits second degree assault if “[wjith intent to cause bodily injury to another person, he causes or attempts to cause such injury to any person by means of a deadly weapon.” Subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) provides that if a person is convicted of second degree assault by the use of a deadly weapon, “the court shall sentence the defendant in accordance with the provisions of section 16-11-309.”

Section 16-11-309 provides in relevant part:

(1)(a) [A]ny person convicted of a crime of violence shall be sentenced ... to a term of incarceration greater than the maximum in the presumptive range,² but not more than twice the maximum term ... without suspension.

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(2)(a)(I) “Crime of violence” means a crime in which the defendant used, or possessed and threatened the use of, a deadly weapon during the commission or attempted commission of ... a crime of murder, first or second degree assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, first degree arson, first or second degree burglary, escape, or criminal extortion....

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(4) In any case in which the accused is charged with a crime of violence as defined in subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section, the indictment or information shall so allege in a separate count, even though the use or threatened use of such deadly weapon or infliction of such serious bodily injury or death is not an essential element of the crime charged.

Subsection 16-11-309(5) provides in relevant part that, in a trial to the court, the court:

shall make a specific finding as to whether the accused did or did not use, or possessed and threatened to use, a deadly weapon during the commission of such crime_ If the ... court finds that the accused used, or possessed and threatened the use of, such deadly weapon or that such injury or death was caused by the accused, the penalty provisions of this section shall be applicable.

A.

The principles guiding judicial interpretation of statutes are well settled. Interpretation of statutes is a question of law, and appellate courts need not defer to the trial court’s interpretation. See Silverstein v. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health Servs. Corp., 43 Colo.App. 446, 449, 614 P.2d 891, 893 (1979), cert. denied (1980). The first goal of a court in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the General Assembly. People v. District Court, Second Judicial Dist., 713 P.2d 918, 921 (Colo.1986). Constructions that defeat the obvious legislative intent should be avoided. Id. To determine the legislative intent, courts look first to the statutory language. Id.

If the statutory language lends itself to alternative constructions and its intended scope is unclear, a court may apply other rules of statutory construction and look to pertinent legislative history to determine which alternative construction is in accordance with the objective sought to be achieved by the legislation. See Griffin v. S. W. Devanney & Co., 775 P.2d 555, 559 (Colo.1989); see also § 2-4-203(l)(c), IB C.R.S. (1980) (authorizing courts construing ambiguous statute to consider factors including legislative objective of statute, circumstances under which statute was enacted, legislative history, former statutory provisions, law concerning same or similar subjects, and consequences of a particular construction). Courts should attempt to give effect to all parts of a statute, and constructions that would render meaningless a part of the statute should be avoided. See District Court, 713 P.2d at 921.

B.

The parties’ dispute focuses on the mandatory language of subsection 18 — 3— 203(2)(c) and subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5). The defendant argues, and the trial court concluded, that subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5) require that the prosecutor plead and prove that the defendant committed a violent crime and was thus subject to section 16-11-309’s sentencing provisions. The People assert that subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) required that the trial court sentence the defendant under subsection 16-11-309(1).

Because they concern the same subject matter — sentencing—subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5) and subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) must be construed together and harmonized to effectuate the legislature’s intent. See People v. Low, 732 P.2d 622, 629 n. 10 (Colo.1987). In attempting to construe the subsections together, we conclude that, in operation, the language in the subsections is ambiguous — that is, it is susceptible to reasonable, alternative interpretations. See Griffin, 775 P.2d at 559.

Subsection 18 — 3—203(2)(c) may be interpreted to require mandatory sentencing as provided for in section 16-11-309, leaving no room for a trial court to impose a sentence under the typical sentencing scheme provided for in section 18-1-105, 8B C.R.S. (Supp.1989). On the other hand, subsections (4) and (5) of section 16-11-309 may be interpreted to require that a prosecutor charge, maintain, and prevail on, a mandatory crimes count in order for a court to impose a mandatory sentence under subsection 16-11-309(1), even if subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) specifically requires mandatory sentencing.

Because the subsections in operation are ambiguous we find it necessary to look beyond the statutory language and resort to other rules of statutory construction, including review of legislative history. Application of those rules demonstrates that the legislature intended that subsection 18-3 — 203(2)(c) require the imposition of a mandatory crimes sentence as provided for in subsection 16-11-309(1).

At the outset we note that the trial court’s construction of subsections 16 — 11— 309(4) and (5) and subsection 18 — 3—203(2)(c) renders subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) meaningless. The court in effect concluded that subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5) exclusively govern whether subsection 18-3-203(2)(c)’s sentencing mandate can be carried out. Under such an interpretation, however, subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) has no effect because it provides no sentencing authority to a trial court other than that which subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5) impart. We cannot countenance such a construction, which would render subsection 18 — 3—203(2)(c) meaningless. See District Court, 713 P.2d at 921.

Moreover, we must assume that the legislature, by amending subsection 18 — 3— 203(2)(c), intended to change the law concerning sentencing for second degree assault by the use of a deadly weapon. People v. Hale, 654 P.2d 849, 851 (Colo.1982). The trial court's construction of subsection 18 — 3—203(2)(c), however, fails to reflect any change in the sentencing provisions of section 18-3-203.

Subsection 18-3-203(2)(c)’s legislative history also demonstrates that the trial court erroneously interpreted subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) and subsections 16-11-309(4) and (5). In 1986 the legislature enacted an omnibus bill amending nine criminal statutes, including section 18-3-203.³ 1986 Colo.Sess.Laws 776-78. The legislature amended the nine statutes to read that a defendant convicted under any of the statutes “shall be sentenced by the court in accordance with the provisions of section 16-11-309.” Id. Importantly, each of the statutes contains elements of bodily injury or use of a deadly weapon, the same elements necessary to impose a sentence under section 16-11-309. See §§ 16 — 11— 309(l)(a) and 16-ll-309(2)(a)(I). Furthermore, because the nine statutes prior to enactment of the omnibus bill made no reference to section 16-11-309 and contained no specific sentencing provisions, it is reasonable to infer that the legislature enacted the bill to change the law regarding sentencing for violations of those statutes — specifically, to mandate a more severe sentence as provided for in section 16-11-309.⁴ See Hale, 654 P.2d at 851-52.

Other legislative history supports the conclusion that by enacting subsection 18-3-203(2)(c) the legislature intended to impose the more severe sentences provided for in section 16-11-309 for defendants convicted of second degree assault by the use of a deadly weapon. During the House Judiciary Committee’s discussion of the omnibus bill, Representative Mielke, a sponsor of the bill, stated that he was introducing the bill in response to the court of appeals decision in People v. Montoya, 709 P.2d 58 (Colo.App.1985), rev’d, 736 P.2d 1208 (Colo.1987). Hearing on HR. 1008 Before the House Judiciary Committee [hereinafter “Hearings on H.R. 1008”], 55th Gen. Assembly, 2d Reg.Sess. (Audio Tape 86-15, Jan. 14, 1986).

In Montoya, the defendant was convicted of first degree assault for shooting another with a gun, contrary to subsection 18-3-202(l)(a), 8B C.R.S. (1978) (now at 8B C.R.S. (1986)). The prosecution apparently did not allege or prove that Montoya committed any acts other than those necessary for the offense of first degree assault, which requires the use of a deadly weapon. The court of appeals held that, for the prosecution to obtain mandatory sentencing under section 16-11-309, the prosecution was required to prove the elements of section 16-11-309, and that the prosecution could not use the same proof it had used to convict Montoya of first degree assault.

After explaining the court of appeals holding in Montoya, Representative Mielke stated in relevant part:

[W]hat we’re doing here is hopefully rewriting our statute to conform to the Montoya decision. [T]o anticipate our supreme court upholding the Montoya decision, we felt, and the [Interim Committee on Sentencing and Criminal Justice] felt this summer, that we needed to rewrite the crimes of violence statute specifically setting forth and allowing the enhanced penalties in that area.... The scary thing in this is that it deals with the elderly and handicapped and other areas we deal with the crimes of violence. [T]here’s a potential that the defendant that uses force, threat or intimidation in unlawful sexual offenses against children, we may lose those on appeal.

Hearing on H.R. 1008. Furthermore, in response to Representative Barry’s question of how House Bill 1008 addressed the equal protection concerns of the court of appeals in Montoya, a district attorney testifying at the hearing stated in relevant part:

The [.Montoya ] decision says that ... under the mandatory sentencing provision you’re finding, for instance in this case, that a deadly weapon was used. That is not a finding that is in addition to any other finding that had to be made under the original charge, and they say that’s a denial of equal protection. So, what you’re doing with this bill is saying, all right, we’re just going to make the penalty for this class of crime the same as if it would ... have been a penalty under 16-11-309. There’s no additional finding required because you’re just essentially changing the penalty for the crime. You have, you have that power to set the penalty for the crime.

Hearing on H.R. 1008 (testimony of S. Peek) (emphasis supplied).

The House Judiciary Committee shortly afterward voted 8-1 to refer the bill favorably to the Rules Committee.

III.

The legislative history reveals that the purpose of House Bill 1008 was to mandate sentencing under section 16-11-309 irrespective of any allegation of a violent crime and irrespective of a specific finding by the trial court that a violent crime has been committed. That is, the legislature in enacting the bill intended — for purposes of punishing violations of any of the nine listed offenses — to treat section 16-11-309 not as a sentence-enhancing statute but as a presumptive penalty statute.⁵ Cf. § 18-1-105, 8B C.R.S. (Supp.1989) (providing generally for presumptive penalties for felony offenses). The bill “does no more than set a penalty range for particular crimes involving use of a deadly weapon.” People v. Haymaker, 716 P.2d 110, 118 (Colo.1986), disapproving People v. Montoya, 709 P.2d 58 (Colo.App.1985); see People v. Eggers, 196 Colo. 349, 352, 585 P.2d 284, 286 (1978) (section 16-11-309 does not enhance punishment but mandates minimum sentencing) (considering section 16-11-309 before it was amended to preclude sentencing within presumptive range); cf. In the Interest of C.R.B., 662 P.2d 198, 199 (Colo.App.1983) (“mandatory sentence statutes do not enhance the disposition but merely require the court to impose a specific disposition on the offender”) (construing delinquency sentencing statute).

The legislature certainly has the authority to establish more severe penalties for acts that it believes have graver consequences. People v. Thatcher, 638 P.2d (Colo.1982); see also Haymaker, 716 P.2d at 118 (legislature rationally could perceive that use of deadly weapon during sexual assault is more reprehensible and dangerous than commission of sexual assault without use of deadly weapon). The defendant’s use of a gun plainly transformed his conduct into a violent crime, punishable by a violent crimes sentence pursuant to subsection 18-3-203(2)(c). Subsection 18-3-203(2)(c)’s use of “shall” signifies the legislature’s directive that courts must impose a violent crimes sentence pursuant to section 16-11-309. See People v. Guenther, 740 P.2d 971, 975 (Colo.1987) (word “shall” in a statute involves “mandatory connotation” and is the antithesis of discretion or choice). Thus, the trial court was obligated to sentence the defendant under section 16-11-309.

We remand the case to the district court for resentencing pursuant to section 16 — 11— 309.

Justice KIRSHBAUM dissents, and Chief Justice QUINN and Justice MULLARKEY join in the dissent.

1 . The People’s appeal was filed prior to August 1, 1988. See § 16-12-102(1), 8A C.R.S. (1986); C.A.R. 4(b)(2), 7B C.R.S. (1984) (amended 1988).

2 . Section 18-1-105, 8B C.R.S. (Supp.1989), provides for a range of "presumptive penalties” that may be imposed on persons convicted of felonies.

3 . The bill also amended § 18-3-103 (second degree murder), § 18-3-202 (first degree assault), § 18-3-209 (assault against the elderly or handicapped), § 18-3-302 (second degree kidnapping), § 18-3-404 (third degree sexual assault), § 18-3-405 (sexual assault against a child), § 18-4-102 (first degree arson), and § 18-4-302 (aggravated robbery). 1986 Colo.Sess.Laws 776-78.

4 . The rule of lenity in general requires that ambiguous criminal statutes, for which express legislative intent cannot be found, be strictly construed in favor of the accused. District Court, 713 P.2d at 922. However, courts may not apply the rule of lenity to defeat the evident intention of the legislature. Id. (citing Olinyk v. People, 642 P.2d 490, 494 (Colo.1982); Croswell v. People, 74 Colo. 547, 549-50, 223 P. 51, 52 (1924)).

5 . This construction carries out the legislature’s intentions and gives full effect to § 18 — 3—203(2)(c) and §§ 16-11-309(4) and (5) in accordance with our rules of statutory construction. See People v. District Court, Second Judicial Dist., 713 P.2d 918, 921 (Colo.1986). Subsection 18-3-203(2)(c)'s sentencing mandate is effectuated by requiring a sentence under the violent crimes statute. In addition, §§ 16 — 11— 309(4) and (5) are unaffected and may continue to require that a prosecutor plead and prove a violent crimes count against a defendant whenever the substantive criminal statute does not specifically require sentencing under the violent crimes statute.