STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 23-KA-353
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
VIUSQUI J. PEREZ-ESPINOSA COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 17-415, DIVISION "K" HONORABLE ELLEN SHIRER KOVACH, JUDGE PRESIDING
May 22, 2024
FREDERICKA HOMBERG WICKER JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker, Scott U. Schlegel, and Timothy S. Marcel
CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING FHW SUS TSM COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr. Thomas J. Butler Andrea F. Long Kellie M. Rish Richard L. Olivier
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, VIUSQUI J. PEREZ-ESPINOSA Jane L. Beebe WICKER, J.
Defendant appeals his conviction and sentence for second degree murder.
For the following reasons, we affirm defendant’s conviction, vacate his sentence,
and remand for resentencing.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On May 4, 2017, a Jefferson Parish Grand Jury returned a bill of indictment
charging defendant, Viusqui J. Perez-Espinosa, with second degree murder in
violation of La. R.S. 14:30.1 (count one) and obstruction of justice in violation of
La. R.S. 14:130.1 (count two). Defendant proceeded to trial. On March 26, 2018,
a jury found him guilty of second degree murder by an eleven-to-one verdict and
guilty of obstruction of justice by a unanimous verdict. The trial court sentenced
defendant to life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence on count one and forty years imprisonment at
hard labor on count two, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
Defendant appealed and, on April 10, 2019, this Court vacated his sentences
and remanded for resentencing, finding the trial court had been divested of
jurisdiction prior to denying his motion for new trial and for post-verdict judgment
of acquittal and imposing his sentences. State v. Perez-Espinosa, 18-576 (La. App.
5 Cir. 4/10/19), 269 So.3d 1119. On September 11, 2019, the trial court again
denied defendant’s motion and resentenced him to life imprisonment at hard labor
without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence on count one and
forty years imprisonment at hard labor on count two, with the sentences to run
consecutively.
Defendant filed a second appeal and, on September 22, 2020, this Court
affirmed his conviction and sentence for obstruction of justice (count two).
However, because the verdict for his second degree murder conviction (count one)
was not unanimous and the case was still on direct appeal, this Court vacated his
23-KA-353 1 second degree murder conviction and sentence, pursuant to Ramos v. Louisiana,
590 U.S. --, 140 S.Ct. 1390, 206 L.Ed.2d 583 (2020),1 and remanded to the trial
court for further proceedings. State v. Perez-Espinosa, 19-601 (La. App. 5 Cir.
9/22/20), 302 So.3d 598, 602.
On remand, defendant proceeded to trial once again and, on January 31,
2023, a jury unanimously found him guilty of second degree murder. On February
9, 2023, the trial court sentenced defendant to life imprisonment at hard labor
without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The court
ordered the sentence to run consecutively to the forty-year sentence for obstruction
of justice and to a six-month sentence imposed for contempt. This is defendant’s
third appeal.
FACTS
At trial, the testimony revealed that the victim, Ives Alexis Portales-Lara
(referred to as “Ives”), was last seen on November 11, 2016, when a co-worker
dropped him off near his apartment after work. In the days that followed, his
friends and family reached out to the Kenner Police Department to help look for
him. The police subsequently found Ives’ blood in the apartment he lived in with
T.C.2 and defendant, and in defendant’s trunk. Parts of Ives’ body were later
discovered in the Reserve canal on December 29, 2016, and January 12, 2017.
T.C. testified that in January 2016, she and defendant were in a romantic
relationship and moved into an apartment together. However, in the summer of
2016, defendant moved into a nearby apartment with another woman. He
suggested that his co-worker, Ives, move into the apartment with T.C. to help pay
1 In Ramos, the United States Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, requires a unanimous verdict to convict a defendant of a serious offense. As a result, the State must retry any defendant convicted of serious offenses by non- unanimous juries and whose cases are still pending on direct appeal. State v. Dumas, 21-143 (La. App. 5 Cir. 11/24/21), 330 So.3d 1263, 1264. 2 Initials are used when referencing this witness, because there are sex offense allegations included in the facts presented. See La. R.S. 46:1844(W)(3), which allows this Court to identify a victim of a sex offense by using his or her initials.
23-KA-353 2 the rent. T.C. recalled that after Ives moved in, they began to have a sexual
relationship but agreed not to tell anyone about it due to their age difference.
T.C. testified that in October of 2016, defendant wanted to move back into
the apartment. She initially refused, but on November 8, 2016, at Ives’ request,
she allowed defendant to move back into the apartment and sleep on the sofa.
Defendant wanted to get back together with T.C., but she was not interested. He
asked T.C. if she was having a relationship with Ives, and she said no. Defendant
expressed that he wanted Ives to leave the apartment.
T.C. testified that on the morning of Friday, November 11, 2016, defendant
suddenly appeared in her bedroom, grabbed her arms, said he wanted to be with
her, and violently threw her toward the bed. She threatened to scream, and he said,
“don’t you dare.” Defendant removed T.C.’s pants and underwear against her will,
performed oral sex on her, and “finishe[d] by masturbating.” Defendant then
apologized and left for work. T.C. testified that she sent a text message to Ives
about the incident.
T.C. returned to the apartment around 10:00 p.m. that night and saw
defendant lying on the sofa and looking toward Ives’ bedroom. She noticed that
Ives’ bedroom door was locked and his belongings were no longer in the
bathroom. T.C. asked defendant if Ives had left without leaving his key to the
apartment. Defendant replied that he went to Walmart and, when he returned, Ives
was gone.
Elena Calix, a co-worker of Ives and defendant, testified that on November
11, 2016, she drove Ives close to his apartment after work. She dropped him off
around 6:00 p.m. and did not see him again. She sent him voice messages that
night and the next day, but he did not respond.
Doloris Linares, who lived in a neighboring apartment, testified that on
November 11, 2016, defendant came home at around 6:00 p.m. and turned on his
23-KA-353 3 loud, air extractor until about 9:00 that night. On Sunday, November 13, 2016,
Ms. Linares noticed defendant was cleaning everything with bleach and
disinfectant. Defendant told her that he was helping T.C. out because she would be
tired after work.
Saidy Garcia, Ives’ ex-wife, testified that Ives would usually have their five-
year-old daughter on the weekends, but she could not get in touch with him. She
went to the apartment complex and Ms. Calix approached her and said Ives’ sister
had called her trying to locate him. Ms. Garcia stated that they called the police.
Officers from the Kenner Police Department performed two disposition
checks at the apartment that day, one around 12:30 p.m. and the other around 6:30
p.m. Defendant gave the officers permission to go into the apartment, and they
looked around but did not see any signs of a struggle or blood. They described
defendant as calm and cooperative. One of the officers contacted the National
Crime Information Center and entered Ives as a missing person.
Lieutenant Jeff Adams testified that on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, Ms.
Calix, Ms. Garcia, and Ives’ pastor went to the Kenner Police Department for help
in locating Ives. After reviewing the missing person report, Lieutenant Adams
went to the apartment along with Officer Francisco Alvarenga, Sergeant Bryan
Weiter, and Sergeant Adam Schouest. They spoke with defendant, who told them
that he did not know where Ives was, that it appeared he had moved out, and that
his property was still in his bedroom. Defendant led the officers to Ives’ bedroom
and opened it, but Lieutenant Adams stayed in the living room. Next to the sofa,
Lieutenant Adams noticed a red blood-like substance on the floor. He testified that
he began looking at the walls with more attention and noticed what appeared to be
blood splatter. Lieutenant Adams decided to get a search warrant for the
apartment.
23-KA-353 4 When the search warrant was executed, officers found a blood-like
substance on the floors, walls, and several other locations inside the apartment.
Sergeant Weiter testified that they found a black, plastic garbage bag containing
Ives’ personal property in his bedroom closet. Sergeant Weiter described the
property in the bag as personal effects someone would be unlikely to leave when
they moved out. There was another bag with identifying paperwork in it, such as
Ives’ passport, state ID, Honduran ID, title paperwork for his car, banking
paperwork, and paperwork related to his divorce. Officers later found a blood-like
substance in the trunk of defendant’s car.
Dr. Marcela Zozaya, an expert in forensic DNA analysis of bodily
components, testified that the blood-like substances in the apartment and
defendant’s trunk tested positive for blood and for Ives’ DNA.
T.C. and defendant agreed to go to the Kenner police complex to give
statements. Sergeant Weiter testified that T.C. said she was not sure where Ives
was and that it looked like he moved out. After she was confronted with a text
message, she told them that she was sexually assaulted by defendant on November
11, 2016.
Sergeant Weiter testified that defendant voluntarily gave a statement, which
was recorded. Officer Alvarenga, Sergeant Schouest, and Sergeant Weiter
conducted the interview with defendant. In the interview, defendant indicated that
the last time he saw Ives was at work on Friday afternoon, when Ives was waiting
for a ride home. He denied that he ever got into a disagreement with Ives, that
anything had happened with T.C. on Friday morning, and that he and Ives fought
about him allegedly sexually assaulting T.C. The officers informed defendant that
blood was found in the apartment and asked if there was a struggle, but defendant
denied anything had happened between him and Ives. He told the officers that Ives
was heavier than him and that he would not know how to move the body.
23-KA-353 5 Defendant also stated that he would be unable to clean all the blood by himself.
Notably, when the officers spoke to defendant at the apartment and during his
interview at the police station, defendant did not say that Ives attacked him, that he
had to kill Ives in self-defense, or that his death was an accident.
Major C.J. Destor with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call on
December 29, 2016, from a fisherman on the Reserve canal who said he came
upon a human hand floating in the water. Officers met with the fisherman and
located a right arm and hand, but did not locate anything further.
Dr. Amanda Krausert, an expert in forensic pathology, prepared an autopsy
report on December 30, 2016, regarding a disarticulated right arm, which was later
determined to belong to Ives.3 Dr. Krausert testified that there was an incision
wound on the arm that was consistent with a sharp instrument, indicating the
person who disarticulated the arm knew what he was doing.4
On January 12, 2017, the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call
regarding the discovery of body parts near the Reserve canal. Officers responded
and found an upper thigh floating in the water. They also located a black bag
containing two legs and two feet, another part of a thigh, a bag containing a human
torso, and a bag of clothes. Dr. Zozaya testified that these body parts matched
Ives’ DNA.
Dr. Erin O’Sullivan, an expert in forensic pathology, performed an autopsy
on the torso, thighs, lower legs, and feet. She testified that the body parts were
disarticulated from the victim but did not show any other evidence of trauma or
natural disease. Dr. O’Sullivan testified that to disarticulate the body in this
manner, some amount of special skill or knowledge was required.
3 Dr. Zozaya testified she received tissue samples from a right arm, which were consistent with Ives’ DNA. 4 Ms. Calix testified that defendant told her that when he lived in Honduras, he worked as a butcher. However, defendant testified that in Honduras, he was a sailor, not a butcher.
23-KA-353 6 Defendant testified that he and Ives had worked together. After he moved
out of the apartment, defendant suggested that Ives move in with T.C. in order to
help with the bills. Later, the three of them lived together. Defendant stated he
was unaware that T.C. and Ives had a relationship until the police interviewed him,
and he did not have any problems with Ives. Defendant also denied sexually
assaulting T.C.
Defendant testified that on November 11, 2016, he was washing his face in
the bathroom when Ives attacked him from behind with a knife. He testified that
Ives said, “you son of a – you mother f***r, I’m going to kill you.” Defendant
indicated that as they struggled with each other, Ives slashed his own aorta.
Defendant tried to stop the bleeding, but there was blood everywhere. He stated
that Ives fainted and did not have a pulse.
Upon realizing that Ives was dead, defendant wrapped him in blankets but
then realized he could not pick him up. Defendant testified that after removing
Ives’ clothes, he used the knife Ives attacked him with to cut his limbs off in the
living room. When asked if he had been convicted of obstruction of justice for
cutting up Ives’s body, disposing of his body, and cleaning the scene, defendant
replied, “That’s what I was told.” Defendant admitted that he initially lied to
everyone but insisted that he stayed to confront the situation.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
On appeal, defendant sets forth three assignments of error. In his first
assignment of error, defendant argues the trial court erred by admitting the facts
pertaining to his obstruction of justice conviction into evidence. He asserts that the
evidence of the dismemberment and disposal of Ives’ body was not so intertwined
with the facts pertaining to the second murder charge that the State could not
present its case without it. Defendant further argues that the gory nature of this
evidence distracted the jury from the actual issue at trial, which was whether he
23-KA-353 7 acted in self-defense when Ives attacked him. He further claims this evidence was
highly prejudicial, had no probative value, and should have been excluded under
La. C.E. art. 404(B).
The State responds that this evidence was properly admitted under the res
gestae doctrine. It contends that the evidence of obstruction of justice formed part
of an interrelated series of events, the presentation of which was necessary for
narrative momentum and cohesiveness in order for the State to accurately present
its case. It further asserts that defendant’s actions in the aftermath of the victim’s
death were highly relevant, provided insight into his state of mind, and were
indicative of his guilty knowledge.
On January 13, 2023, the State filed a Notice of Intent to Use Res Gestae
Evidence, asserting that it intended to use evidence of defendant’s obstruction of
justice at his second degree murder trial. On January 18, 2023, defendant filed an
Opposition to State’s Intention to Introduce “Res Gestae” Evidence and Motion in
Limine, asking the court to exclude the evidence of obstruction of justice at trial or
limit its use. The State subsequently filed a reply memorandum.
After considering the arguments of counsel at a hearing on January 19, 2023,
the trial court found the evidence of obstruction of justice was admissible. It
stated, “I think the facts of the obstruction are inextricably intertwined with the fact
of the homicide, also allowing the information to be presented to the jury under
404 B.” The trial court further stated that the motion in limine included in the
defense’s opposition was denied. Defendant objected to these rulings.5
In Louisiana, the fundamental rule governing the use of evidence of other
crimes, wrongs, or acts is that such evidence is not admissible to prove that the
accused committed the charged crime because he has committed other such crimes
5 After trial, defense counsel raised the same issue in his Motion for Post-Verdict Judgment of Acquittal and for New Trial filed on February 2, 2023. The motion was addressed at a hearing on February 9, 2023, and denied by the trial court.
23-KA-353 8 in the past. La. C.E. art. 404(B)(1); State v. Williams, 09-48 (La. App. 5 Cir.
10/27/09), 28 So.3d 357, 363, writ denied, 09-2565 (La. 5/7/10), 34 So.3d 860.
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts committed by the defendant is generally
inadmissible because of the “substantial risk of grave prejudice to the defendant.”
State v. Ard, 20-221 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/28/21), 347 So.3d 1046, 1055.
However, while the State may not admit evidence of other crimes to prove
defendant is a person of bad character, evidence of prior crimes may be admitted if
the State establishes an independent relevance aside from proving the defendant’s
criminal character. State v. Brown, 17-348 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/20/17), 235 So.3d
1314, 1323, writ denied, 18-158 (La. 11/5/18), 256 So.3d 276, cert. denied, -- U.S.
--, 139 S.Ct. 2033, 204 L.Ed.2d 233 (2019). Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts is allowed to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
identity, absence of mistake or accident, or when it relates to conduct, formerly
referred to as res gestae, that constitutes an integral part of the act or transaction
that is the subject of the present proceeding. La. C.E. art. 404(B)(1); State v.
Joseph, 16-349 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/14/16), 208 So.3d 1036, 1046, writ denied, 17-
77 (La. 4/7/17), 218 So.3d 109.
Res gestae/integral act evidence constituting other crimes is deemed
admissible, because it is so nearly connected to the charged offense that the State
could not accurately present its case without reference to it. State v. Maize, 16-575
(La. App. 5 Cir. 6/15/17), 223 So.3d 633, 648, writ denied, 17-1265 (La. 4/27/18),
241 So.3d 306. Res gestae/integral act evidence in Louisiana acts as a rule of
narrative completeness to admit evidence without which the State’s case would
lose its cohesiveness. Brown, 235 So.3d at 1326.
A close proximity in time and location between the charged offense and the
other crimes evidence is required to ensure that the evidence of other crimes is not
admitted for the purpose of depicting defendant as a bad man or showing he acted
23-KA-353 9 in conformity with the other crime, but rather “to complete the story of the crime
for which he is on trial by proving its immediate context of happenings near in
time and place.” Maize, 223 So.3d at 648-49; State v. Colomb, 98-2813 (La.
10/1/99), 747 So.2d 1074, 1076.
In addition, the probative value of the other crimes evidence must outweigh
its prejudicial effect. La. C.E. art. 403. Maize, supra. Any inculpatory evidence is
“prejudicial” to a defendant, especially when it is “probative” to a high degree.
State v. Rodgers, 16-14 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/26/16), 202 So.3d 1189, 1201, writs
denied, 16-2189 (La. 9/15/17), 225 So.3d 479, and 16-2093 (La. 1/29/18), 235
So.3d 1104. However, this prejudice limits the introduction of probative evidence
of prior misconduct only when it is unduly and unfairly prejudicial. Id. The term
“unfair prejudice,” as to a criminal defendant, speaks to the capacity of some
relevant evidence to lure the fact-finder into declaring guilt on a ground different
from the proof specific to the offense charged. State v. Frickey, 22-261 (La. App.
5 Cir. 3/1/23), 360 So.3d 19, 50, writ denied, 23-468 (La. 11/8/23), 373 So.3d 59.
The burden is on the defendant to show that he was prejudiced by the
admission of other crimes evidence. State v. Gatson, 21-156 (La. App. 5 Cir.
12/29/21), 334 So.3d 1021, 1038. Absent an abuse of discretion, a trial court’s
ruling on the admissibility of evidence pursuant to La. C.E. art. 404(B)(1) will not
be disturbed. Id.
In State v. Taylor, 01-1638 (La. 1/14/03), 838 So.2d 729, 741, cert. denied,
540 U.S. 1103, 124 S.Ct. 1036, 157 L.Ed.2d 886 (2004), the defendant was
convicted of first degree murder. On appeal, he challenged the admissibility of
evidence concerning his participation in other crimes committed after the charged
offense and before his arrest several days later. Id. at 740-41. In the defendant’s
view, evidence of the crimes occurring after the offense did not constitute an
integral part of the crime charged and did not fall under any recognized exception
23-KA-353 10 set forth in La. C.E. art. 404(B)(1). The Louisiana Supreme Court found that the
evidence was clearly relevant for purposes other than simply proving the criminal
disposition of the defendant. For instance, the events following the murder
provided law enforcement with the first break in the investigation. Consequently,
the Supreme Court concluded that the State could not have logically presented its
case without telling the jury why the suspicions developed, and therefore, the
evidence was admissible under the res gestae doctrine. Id. at 743.
In the present case, the facts surrounding the obstruction of justice charge
were integral to show the progression of the investigation from a missing person
case to a homicide. These facts were also necessary to explain the condition of the
body parts recovered by the police. The officers found blood in the apartment
while searching for a missing person, and defendant initially denied knowing what
happened to the victim or where he was. Later, defendant testified the knife that
killed Ives was the same knife used immediately after to dismember the body. The
evidence of the obstruction of justice was so nearly connected to the charged
offense that the State could not accurately present its case without reference to it.
Additionally, although the obstruction of justice evidence was prejudicial, it
did not outweigh its probative value. When a defendant in a homicide prosecution
asserts a claim of self-defense, the burden is on the State to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense. State v. Sly, 23-60
(La. App. 5 Cir. 11/2/23), 376 So.3d 1047, 1073, writ denied, 23-1588 (La.
4/23/24), --- So.3d ---, 2024 WL 1737007. Evidence of flight, concealment, or
attempt to avoid apprehension is relevant and admissible to prove consciousness of
guilt from which the trier of fact may infer guilt. State v. Davis, 18-485 (La. App.
5 Cir. 4/10/19), 269 So.3d 1123, 1132, writ denied, 19-716 (La. 11/12/19), 282
So.3d 229.
23-KA-353 11 In this case, defendant asserted that he was acting in self-defense when Ives
accidentally cut his own throat. The evidence of defendant’s actions in concealing
and disposing of Ives’ body was relevant to show defendant’s guilty knowledge
and/or specific intent, and to rebut defendant’s defense that he was acting in self-
defense. See State v. Huls, 95-541 (La. App. 1 Cir. 5/29/96), 676 So.2d 160, 177,
writ denied, 96-1734 (La. 1/6/97), 685 So.2d 126, in which the First Circuit found
that the defendant’s activities after he murdered his ex-wife, such as concealing her
body and disposing of the murder weapon, were consistent with a finding of
specific intent to kill and guilty knowledge. See also State v. Richards, 06-1553
(La. App. 3 Cir. 5/2/07), 956 So.2d 160, 171, writ denied, 07-1129 (La. 12/14/07),
970 So.2d 529, in which the Third Circuit recognized that a defendant’s
concealment of the victim’s body is inconsistent with a self-defense argument. See
also State v. Murray, 36,137 (La. App. 2 Cir. 8/29/02), 827 So.2d 488, writ denied,
02-2634 (La. 9/5/03), 852 So.2d 1020; and State v. Paterno, 01-2585 (La. App. 1
Cir. 6/21/02), 822 So.2d 141, 148.
Based on our finding that the other crimes evidence constituted an integral
part of the murder investigation and that this evidence was relevant to counter
defendant’s claim of self-defense, we find no error in the trial court’s
determination that the evidence of obstruction of justice was admissible at
defendant’s trial for second degree murder. Accordingly, we find no merit in
defendant’s first assignment of error, and we affirm his conviction for second
degree murder.
Defendant’s second and third assignments of error pertain to his sentence.
In his second assignment of error, defendant asserts the trial court erred when it
imposed an excessive sentence by ordering his life sentence for second degree
murder to be served consecutively to his forty-year sentence for obstruction of
justice. In his third assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial court
23-KA-353 12 failed to observe the twenty-four-hour delay required by La. C.Cr.P. art. 873 after
denying his motion for new trial, and he did not waive this time delay prior to
sentencing. He asserts his sentence for second degree murder was illegally
imposed and must be vacated. Considering these arguments, we first address the
third assignment of error.
La. C.Cr.P. art. 873 provides that “[i]f 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.”
On February 4, 2023, defendant filed a Motion for Post-Verdict Judgment of
Acquittal and for New Trial. At a hearing on February 9, 2023, the trial court
denied the motion. Following victim impact statements presented at this hearing,
the trial court sentenced defendant to life imprisonment at hard labor without the
benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, to run consecutively with
his forty-year sentence for obstruction of justice and a six-month sentence imposed
for contempt.
Absent a showing of prejudice, when a defendant does not waive the delay
afforded in La. C.Cr.P. art. 873, and does not challenge the penalty imposed, the
error may be harmless. State v. Wilson, 99-105 (La. App. 5 Cir. 7/27/99), 742
So.2d 957, 959, writ denied, 99-2583 (La. 2/11/00), 754 So.2d 935. However,
when a defendant challenges the penalty imposed and the sentence is not
mandatory, the failure to observe the twenty-four-hour delay mandated in La.
C.Cr.P. art. 873 cannot be considered harmless error. State v. Bienvenu, 14-541
(La. App. 5 Cir. 12/16/14), 167 So.3d 63, 70, writ denied, 15-98 (La. 11/20/15),
180 So.3d 314; State v. Chester, 19-363 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2/3/21), 314 So.3d 914,
989, writ denied, 21-350 (La. 6/8/21), 317 So.3d 321. Generally, when a
defendant challenges a non-mandatory sentence and the delay is not waived, the
23-KA-353 13 defendant’s sentence must be vacated and the matter remanded for resentencing.
State v. Bibbins, 13-875 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/9/14), 140 So.3d 153, 169, writs denied,
14-994 (La. 12/8/14), 153 So.3d 439, and 14-1015 (La. 12/8/14), 153 So.3d 440.
In the present case, defendant did not waive the twenty-four-hour sentencing
delay, and he challenges both his sentence and the failure to observe the delay in
this appeal. Although defendant received a mandatory life sentence for the second
degree murder conviction pursuant to La. R.S. 14:30.1, the consecutive nature of
his sentence was not mandatory. Accordingly, given these circumstances, we
vacate defendant’s sentence and remand the matter for resentencing.
Considering our decision to vacate defendant’s sentence and remand for
resentencing, we find that defendant’s second assignment of error, challenging the
consecutive nature of his sentence as excessive, is moot.
ERRORS PATENT
The record was reviewed for errors patent according to La. C.Cr.P. art. 920;
State v. Oliveaux, 312 So.2d 337 (La. 1975); and State v. Weiland, 556 So.2d 175
(La. App. 5 Cir. 1990). No errors requiring corrective action were noted.
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm defendant’s conviction for second
degree murder, vacate his sentence, and remand to the trial court for resentencing.
CONVICTION AFFIRMED; SENTENCE VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING
23-KA-353 14 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. WISEMAN JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIRST DEPUTY CLERK SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY MAY 22, 2024 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
23-KA-353 E-NOTIFIED 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HONORABLE ELLEN SHIRER KOVACH (DISTRICT JUDGE) ANDREA F. LONG (APPELLEE) THOMAS J. BUTLER (APPELLEE)
MAILED JANE L. BEEBE (APPELLANT) HONORABLE PAUL D. CONNICK, JR. ATTORNEY AT LAW (APPELLEE) LOUISIANA APPELLATE PROJECT DISTRICT ATTORNEY POST OFFICE BOX 463 KELLIE M. RISH (APPELLEE) ADDIS, LA 70710 RICHARD L. OLIVIER (APPELLEE) ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT 200 DERBIGNY STREET GRETNA, LA 70053