State v. Baker

562 P.2d 1145, 90 N.M. 291
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 29, 1977
Docket2810
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 562 P.2d 1145 (State v. Baker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Baker, 562 P.2d 1145, 90 N.M. 291 (N.M. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

What is the proper sentence to be imposed upon an habitual offender convicted in one trial of multiple felonies after a prior felony conviction?

Defendants were convicted of false imprisonment, robbery and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Each offense was a felony. See § 40A — 4-3, N.M.S.A. 1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6), § 40A-16-2, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6, Supp.1975) and § 64-9 — 4, N.M. S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 9, pt. 2, Supp.1975). Each defendant had a prior felony conviction in New Mexico. The trial court enhanced each of the three convictions as a second felony. Defendants challenge the propriety of the enhanced sentences. The proper sentence issue has two parts: (1) whether each of the subsequent convictions could be enhanced and (2) manner of serving the sentences.

Section 40A-29-5, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6) states:

“Any person who, after having been convicted within this state of a felony . commits any felony within this state not otherwise punishable by death or life imprisonment, shall be punished as follows: “A. Upon conviction of such second felony, if the subsequent felony is such that, upon a first conviction the offender would be punishable by imprisonment for any term less than his natural life, then such person must be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than half the longest term, nor more than twice the longest term prescribed upon a first conviction.”

Enhancement of Each of the Subsequent Convictions

Defendants claim that it would be illogical to treat each of the three subsequent convictions as second felonies because two of the last three convictions are their third and fourth felony convictions. They do not assert, however, that the sentences for two of the last three convictions should be enhanced as third and fourth felony convictions. See Paragraphs B and C of § 40A-29-5, supra. Their contention is that their second, third and fourth felony convictions should be treated as one conviction for purposes of an enhanced sentence.

New Mexico decisions have considered multiple convictions in relation to an enhanced sentence under § 40A-29-5, supra. Where multiple convictions occur, and there are no prior felony convictions, none of the sentences are enhanced; rather the regular sentence is imposed for each of the convictions. In this situation there have been no prior convictions as required by § 40A-29-5, supra. State v. Ellis, 88 N.M. 90, 537 P.2d 698 (Ct.App.1975); see French v. Cox, 74 N.M. 593, 396 P.2d 423 (1964). Where there has been one prior conviction and a defendant is convicted of two subsequent felonies at one trial, the second felony conviction may not be utilized to enhance the sentence for the third felony. The reason is that under § 40A-29-5, supra, the second felony conviction is not a prior conviction. State v. Martinez, 89 N.M. 729, 557 P.2d 578 (Ct.App.1976). These decisions do not aid defendants because there is no issue as to prior convictions; there is only one prior conviction for each of the defendants.

There were five felony convictions charged in State v. Sanchez, 87 N.M. 256, 531 P.2d 1229 (Ct.App.1975). Defendant was convicted of the middle three felonies at the same time. Sanchez states that if the middle three felonies were for unrelated crimes, each could be counted as a separate conviction in habitual offender proceedings. If, however, the multiple convictions arose out of a unified course of events, the multiple convictions counted as one conviction in the habitual offender proceedings. In Sanchez, the middle three felonies were counted as one in the trial court; the enhanced sentence for defendant’s fifth felony conviction was on the basis of a third felony under § 40A-29-5, supra. Sanchez is not applicable because it involved prior multiple convictions; this case involves subsequent multiple convictions.

The New Mexico decisions to which reference has been made do not provide the answer to the issue in this case; they do, however, answer the “logic” contention of defendants. Because the enhanced sentence provisions of § 40A-29-5, supra, require prior convictions, the number of convictions which may be utilized under § 40A-29-5, supra, will not necessarily equate with the total number of a defendant’s felony convictions.

Defendants point out that § 40A-29-5(A), supra, is worded in the singular — conviction of a second felony. They contend that the absence of the plural means there can be only one second felony. This argument is meritless. Section l-2-2(B), N.M.S. A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 1) provides that the singular may be extended to several things. The opening paragraph to § 1-2-2, supra, states that such a rule of construction “shall be observed” unless inconsistent with manifest legislative intent. Section 40A-29-5, supra, does not indicate a legislative intent that “conviction” may not be extended to cover “convictions”.

We are aware that penal statutes are to be construed strictly and in favor of the defendant. State v. Couch, 52 N.M. 127, 193 P.2d 405 (1948). However, there is no basis for construction when the language is unambiguous; in this situation the Legislature must be understood as meaning what it expressly declared. State v. Shop Rite Foods, Inc., 74 N.M. 55, 390 P.2d 437 (1964); State v. Ortiz, 78 N.M. 507, 433 P.2d 92 (Ct.App.1967).

In some jurisdictions, the habitual offender statute has specific provisions for the treatment of multiple convictions. See State v. McCall, 14 N.J. 538, 103 A.2d 376 (1954). With the wording of New Mexico’s statute such provisions are not heeded. Section 40A-29-5, supra, states that anyone, after having been convicted of a felony in New Mexico “commits any felony within this state . . . shall be punished” (emphasis ours) as therein provided. “Any felony” is an inclusive term; it does not distinguish between multiple felony convictions and single felony convictions. See State v. Kendall (Ct.App.) 90 N.M. 236, 561 P.2d 935, decided January 4, 1977, overruled on other grounds, Kendall v. State, 90 N.M. 191, 561 P.2d 464, Sup.Ct., decided March 9, 1977. With this statutory language, the trial court properly enhanced each of the three subsequent felony convictions as second felony convictions. See Hodges v. Mayo, 65 So.2d 750 (Fla.1953); State v. Sortor, 10 Or.App. 316, 499 P.2d 1370 (1972); Melby v. State, 70 Wis.2d 368, 234 N.W.2d 634 (1975).

Manner of Serving the Enhanced Sentences

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Bluebook (online)
562 P.2d 1145, 90 N.M. 291, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-baker-nmctapp-1977.