NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
21-42 consolidated with 21-43
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VERSUS
MICHAEL TRENZELL HARRIS
**********
APPEAL FROM THE THIRTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF VERNON, NO. 94465 and No. 94770-B HONORABLE C. ANTHONY EAVES, DISTRICT JUDGE
JOHN E. CONERY JUDGE
Court composed of Elizabeth A. Pickett, John E. Conery, and Candyce G. Perret, Judges.
SENTENCES VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING. Edward K. Bauman Louisiana Appellate Project Post Office Box 1641 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602-1641 (337) 302-0960 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Michael Trenzell Harris
Terry W. Lambright District Attorney, Thirtieth Judicial District William R. Thornton Assistant District Attorney P.O. Box 1188 Leesville, Louisiana 71446 (337) 239-2008 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: State of Louisiana CONERY, Judge.
The State alleged that Defendant accosted the victim in a hospital parking lot
in Vernon Parish and ultimately charged Defendant with attempted carjacking and
simple burglary. Following a trial at which the victim testified, a jury unanimously
convicted Defendant of both offenses. The trial court subsequently denied
Defendant’s motions for new trial and post-verdict judgment of acquittal and
immediately thereafter found Defendant to be a second felony offender, imposing
concurrent sentences of five years at hard labor for attempted carjacking, without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, and six years at hard labor,
also without benefits, for the simple burglary conviction. Defendant appeals,
questioning the sentences imposed. For the following reasons, we vacate
Defendant’s sentences and remand for resentencing.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On or about June 9, 2019, Mrs. Miranda Welch went to Byrd Hospital in
Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to seek treatment around midnight. Mrs. Welch
proceeded to park in a well-lit area toward the front corner of the hospital. As she
pulled into the parking spot and parked her car, the door to her car flew open, and a
man jumped into her vehicle. The man grabbed her by the arm, and a struggle ensued,
damaging her center console. Mrs. Welch testified at trial that, “after the struggle
had taken place I was screaming. He let go, he grabbed me again and he was
screaming, he was, like, what’s up, fool, and some people come running from the
hospital.” Once Mrs. Welch got her door open, the man jumped out of her car on
the other side. A security guard came running from the hospital and detained the
man until the police arrived. The man was later identified as Defendant Michael
Trenzell Harris. Defendant was arrested for attempted carjacking, simple criminal damage to
property, simple battery, and disturbing the peace. Arrest warrants were issued, and
Defendant was later arrested for false imprisonment and simple burglary arising out
of the same incident.
On August 8, 2019, Defendant was charged by bill of information with the
offenses of attempted carjacking, a violation of La.R.S. 14:27 and 14:64.2, and
simple burglary, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62. The matters proceeded under the
lower court docket numbers 94465 and 94770-B, respectively. On August 28, 2019,
Defendant pled not guilty to the offenses. Trial began on February 10, 2020. On
February 12, 2020, the jury unanimously voted to convict Defendant on both counts.
On March 6, 2020, Defendant filed a “Motion for New Trial & Post-Verdict
Judgment of Acquittal” in the trial court. The trial court denied Defendant’s motion
on June 3, 2020. On the same date, a sentencing hearing was held. The trial court
found Defendant to be a second felony offender and sentenced him to five years at
hard labor for attempted carjacking, without benefit of probation, parole, or
suspension of sentence. For Defendant’s simple burglary conviction, he was
sentenced to six years at hard labor, also without benefit of probation, parole, or
suspension of sentence, to run concurrently with his sentence for attempted
carjacking.
On June 11, 2020, Defendant filed a “Motion For An Appeal; To Appoint
Appellate Louisiana Project; And Designation Of Record” with the trial court. On
June 16, 2020, the trial court issued an order, granting Defendant’s appeal and
appointing the Louisiana Appellate Project to represent Defendant. We consider
Defendant’s consolidated appeals herein.
2 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Defendant now asserts two assignments of error relating to his sentences. He
first contends that the trial court erred in failing to consider any applicable mitigating
factors in arriving at the appropriate sentence, in violation of La.Code Crim.P. art.
894.1. He also argues that the trial court’s imposition of a five-year sentence without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, to run concurrently to his
other six-year sentence, is constitutionally excessive.
Due to the discussion below involving the error patent identified by this court,
we pretermit ruling on Defendant’s assignments of error, vacate Defendant’s
sentences and remand for resentencing on both convictions.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Error Patent
In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for
errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there is
one error patent which will require that Defendant’s sentences be vacated and the
case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 873 requires a minimum
twenty-four hour delay between the denial of a motion for new trial or motion in
arrest of judgment and sentencing, unless there is an express waiver of the delay.
Defendant’s Motion for New Trial and Post-Verdict Judgment of Acquittal was
denied immediately prior to the commencement of sentencing:
BY THE COURT:
So, we’re going to go ahead with sentencing at this point. So, I’ve denied the motion of acquittal and then the motion for new trial and I believe that’s everything and I think we can go ahead and proceed on to sentencing.
3 Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 873 provides in pertinent part:
If a motion for a new trial, or in arrest of judgment, is filed, sentence shall not be imposed until at least twenty-four hours after the motion is overruled. If the defendant expressly waives a delay provided for in this article or pleads guilty, sentence may be imposed immediately.
(Emphasis added.)
In the case before us, Defendant did not expressly waive the twenty-four hour
delay required by Article 873, nor did his counsel raise an objection to the sentencing
proceeding pursuant to Article 873. Defendant did not plead guilty, but was found
guilty of the two charges by a unanimous jury.
In this appeal, Defendant, only challenges the sentences imposed in his two
assignments of error claiming that; the trial court failed to “consider any applicable
mitigating factors in arriving at the appropriate sentences, … in violation of La.Code
Crim P. art. 894;” and that “the trial court’s imposition of a five year sentence
without benefits, … to run concurrent with his other six year sentence, is
constitutionally excessive.” The transcript shows that neither the Defendant nor his
attorney waived the sentencing delay.
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NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
21-42 consolidated with 21-43
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VERSUS
MICHAEL TRENZELL HARRIS
**********
APPEAL FROM THE THIRTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF VERNON, NO. 94465 and No. 94770-B HONORABLE C. ANTHONY EAVES, DISTRICT JUDGE
JOHN E. CONERY JUDGE
Court composed of Elizabeth A. Pickett, John E. Conery, and Candyce G. Perret, Judges.
SENTENCES VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING. Edward K. Bauman Louisiana Appellate Project Post Office Box 1641 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602-1641 (337) 302-0960 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Michael Trenzell Harris
Terry W. Lambright District Attorney, Thirtieth Judicial District William R. Thornton Assistant District Attorney P.O. Box 1188 Leesville, Louisiana 71446 (337) 239-2008 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: State of Louisiana CONERY, Judge.
The State alleged that Defendant accosted the victim in a hospital parking lot
in Vernon Parish and ultimately charged Defendant with attempted carjacking and
simple burglary. Following a trial at which the victim testified, a jury unanimously
convicted Defendant of both offenses. The trial court subsequently denied
Defendant’s motions for new trial and post-verdict judgment of acquittal and
immediately thereafter found Defendant to be a second felony offender, imposing
concurrent sentences of five years at hard labor for attempted carjacking, without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, and six years at hard labor,
also without benefits, for the simple burglary conviction. Defendant appeals,
questioning the sentences imposed. For the following reasons, we vacate
Defendant’s sentences and remand for resentencing.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On or about June 9, 2019, Mrs. Miranda Welch went to Byrd Hospital in
Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to seek treatment around midnight. Mrs. Welch
proceeded to park in a well-lit area toward the front corner of the hospital. As she
pulled into the parking spot and parked her car, the door to her car flew open, and a
man jumped into her vehicle. The man grabbed her by the arm, and a struggle ensued,
damaging her center console. Mrs. Welch testified at trial that, “after the struggle
had taken place I was screaming. He let go, he grabbed me again and he was
screaming, he was, like, what’s up, fool, and some people come running from the
hospital.” Once Mrs. Welch got her door open, the man jumped out of her car on
the other side. A security guard came running from the hospital and detained the
man until the police arrived. The man was later identified as Defendant Michael
Trenzell Harris. Defendant was arrested for attempted carjacking, simple criminal damage to
property, simple battery, and disturbing the peace. Arrest warrants were issued, and
Defendant was later arrested for false imprisonment and simple burglary arising out
of the same incident.
On August 8, 2019, Defendant was charged by bill of information with the
offenses of attempted carjacking, a violation of La.R.S. 14:27 and 14:64.2, and
simple burglary, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62. The matters proceeded under the
lower court docket numbers 94465 and 94770-B, respectively. On August 28, 2019,
Defendant pled not guilty to the offenses. Trial began on February 10, 2020. On
February 12, 2020, the jury unanimously voted to convict Defendant on both counts.
On March 6, 2020, Defendant filed a “Motion for New Trial & Post-Verdict
Judgment of Acquittal” in the trial court. The trial court denied Defendant’s motion
on June 3, 2020. On the same date, a sentencing hearing was held. The trial court
found Defendant to be a second felony offender and sentenced him to five years at
hard labor for attempted carjacking, without benefit of probation, parole, or
suspension of sentence. For Defendant’s simple burglary conviction, he was
sentenced to six years at hard labor, also without benefit of probation, parole, or
suspension of sentence, to run concurrently with his sentence for attempted
carjacking.
On June 11, 2020, Defendant filed a “Motion For An Appeal; To Appoint
Appellate Louisiana Project; And Designation Of Record” with the trial court. On
June 16, 2020, the trial court issued an order, granting Defendant’s appeal and
appointing the Louisiana Appellate Project to represent Defendant. We consider
Defendant’s consolidated appeals herein.
2 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Defendant now asserts two assignments of error relating to his sentences. He
first contends that the trial court erred in failing to consider any applicable mitigating
factors in arriving at the appropriate sentence, in violation of La.Code Crim.P. art.
894.1. He also argues that the trial court’s imposition of a five-year sentence without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, to run concurrently to his
other six-year sentence, is constitutionally excessive.
Due to the discussion below involving the error patent identified by this court,
we pretermit ruling on Defendant’s assignments of error, vacate Defendant’s
sentences and remand for resentencing on both convictions.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Error Patent
In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for
errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there is
one error patent which will require that Defendant’s sentences be vacated and the
case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 873 requires a minimum
twenty-four hour delay between the denial of a motion for new trial or motion in
arrest of judgment and sentencing, unless there is an express waiver of the delay.
Defendant’s Motion for New Trial and Post-Verdict Judgment of Acquittal was
denied immediately prior to the commencement of sentencing:
BY THE COURT:
So, we’re going to go ahead with sentencing at this point. So, I’ve denied the motion of acquittal and then the motion for new trial and I believe that’s everything and I think we can go ahead and proceed on to sentencing.
3 Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 873 provides in pertinent part:
If a motion for a new trial, or in arrest of judgment, is filed, sentence shall not be imposed until at least twenty-four hours after the motion is overruled. If the defendant expressly waives a delay provided for in this article or pleads guilty, sentence may be imposed immediately.
(Emphasis added.)
In the case before us, Defendant did not expressly waive the twenty-four hour
delay required by Article 873, nor did his counsel raise an objection to the sentencing
proceeding pursuant to Article 873. Defendant did not plead guilty, but was found
guilty of the two charges by a unanimous jury.
In this appeal, Defendant, only challenges the sentences imposed in his two
assignments of error claiming that; the trial court failed to “consider any applicable
mitigating factors in arriving at the appropriate sentences, … in violation of La.Code
Crim P. art. 894;” and that “the trial court’s imposition of a five year sentence
without benefits, … to run concurrent with his other six year sentence, is
constitutionally excessive.” The transcript shows that neither the Defendant nor his
attorney waived the sentencing delay.
The history and the present interpretation of Article 873 in this circuit is
thoroughly discussed in State v. Charles, 18-222 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/1/19), 270 So.3d
859, which addressed an Article 873 violation. Considering the issue within its error
patent review, the panel in Charles pretermitted any discussion of two other errors
patent found “because we find that another error patent on the record requires that
Defendant’s sentences be vacated and the case remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.” Id. at 863.
The Charles panel indicated that there was no express waiver in the record of
the defendant’s right to delay the sentencing nor did it reflect an objection by counsel
4 when the trial court immediately began the sentencing proceedings. The panel
further stated on the issue:
[T]his court, relying on State v. Augustine, 555 So.2d 1331 (La.1990), recognized the failure to follow the mandatory delays for sentencing provided in La.Code Crim. P. art. 873 as an error patent. We held there that when a defendant challenges the sentence imposed “Augustine mandates a remand.” Id. at 699. In State v. Kisack, 16-797 (La. 10/18/17), 236 So.3d 1201, cert. denied, ––– U.S. ––––, 138 S.Ct. 1175, 200 L.Ed.2d 322 (2018), the state supreme court reversed the appellate court’s finding an implicit waiver and expressly held that “[a]n implicit waiver ... runs afoul of the plain language of [La.C.Cr.P. a]rt. 873 that requires that the waiver be expressly made.” Id. at 1205.
Id. at 863-64.
The same result was reached in the subsequent case of State v. Cochran, 19-
226 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/18/19), 286 So.3d 1191. See also State v. Holden, 19-867
(La.App. 3 Cir. 7/15/20), 304 So.3d 520, writ denied, 20-1016 (La. 2/9/21), 310
So.3d 174. In Cochran, where the defendant was found guilty by a unanimous jury
of the responsive verdict of aggravated rape, the trial court denied the defendant’s
Motion for Post-Verdict Judgement of Acquittal and Alternatively a Motion For
New Trial on December 11, 2018. The trial court immediately sentenced the
defendant to twenty-five years at hard labor without benefits.
The defendant in Cochran did not expressly waive the required sentencing
delay of twenty-four hours pursuant to Article 873. As here, the defendant also
challenged his sentence on appeal. Citing Kisack and Charles, the panel found the
trial court “committed reversable error by proceeding with sentencing the defendant
immediately after denying his motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal/motion
for new trial.” Id. at 1204. Accordingly, the panel vacated the defendant’s sentence
and remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing. Id.
5 DECREE
We find that pursuant to Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 873
and the cited jurisprudence, the same result is required in Defendant’s case.
Accordingly, we vacate the sentences imposed and remand for resentencing by the
trial court in accordance with this opinion.
SENTENCES VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION. Rule 2-16.3 Uniform Rules, Courts of Appeal.