State v. Belton

88 So. 3d 1159, 11 La.App. 3 Cir. 948, 2012 WL 716274, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 263
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 7, 2012
DocketNo. 11-948
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 88 So. 3d 1159 (State v. Belton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Belton, 88 So. 3d 1159, 11 La.App. 3 Cir. 948, 2012 WL 716274, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 263 (La. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinions

GENOVESE, Judge.

I,Defendant, Michael Wayne Belton, was charged by bill of information with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62.2. On March 22, 2011, Defendant pled guilty as charged. As part of his plea agreement, Defendant agreed to pay a $500.00 fine plus costs, $500.00 to the Public Defender’s Office, and $150.00 to the crime lab, all within six months of his release from prison; he also agreed to serve one year of his sentence without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence as statutorily mandated. Additionally, although Defendant waived his right to seek review of his conviction, he still could seek review of his sentence. In accordance with the plea agreement, the State agreed to not file a habitual offender bill against Defendant.

Defendant was sentenced on April 20, 2011, to serve twelve years at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. On August 24, 2011, Defendant’s sentence was amended to reflect that only one year of his sentence was to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. He was also given credit for time served.

Defendant’s appellate counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 [1161]*1161U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), alleging there are no non-frivolous issues in this matter. Defendant has filed a pro se brief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.

FACTS

On or about August 30, 2010, through September 14, 2010, Defendant committed simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, a residence belonging to Sheena Hall.

TERRORS 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 are three errors patent concerning Defendant’s sentence that must be addressed.

Defendant pled guilty to simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62.2. For this offense, Defendant faced a hard labor sentence of not less than one year without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, nor more than twelve years.

At the close of the guilty plea proceeding, the court imposed the “money portion” of Defendant’s sentence as follows:

You will be sentenced to pay ... you are sentenced to pay the following to the Sheriff of Natchitoches Parish within six (6) months of your release from prison[,] in default of which serve an additional six (6) months in prison ... [pay a] five hundred dollar[] ($500) fine and costs, [pay] five hundred dollars ($500) for the Public Defender’s Office, [and pay] one hundred fifty [dollars] ($150) for the Crime Lab.

In State v. Moore, 93-1632, p. 3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/4/94), 640 So.2d 561, 563, writ denied, 94-1455 (La.3/30/95), 651 So.2d 858, this court stated: “An illegal sentence is one not ‘authorized or directed by law.’ State v. Johnson, 220 La. 64, 55 So.2d 782 (1951).”

Initially, we note La.R.S. 14:62.2 does not authorize imposition of a fine. Accordingly, we find the imposition of a $500.00 fine and costs for Defendant’s conviction of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling was illegal. See State ex rel. Culbertson v. Maggio, 468 So.2d 1194 (La.1985). Additionally, for the reasons hereinafter set forth, we find the provision of Defendant’s sentence requiring payment to the Public Defender’s Office illegal as well.

In State v. Lazado, 594 So.2d 1063, 1067 (La.App. 3 Cir.1992), this court noted:

IsLastly, we bring to the sentencing court’s attention the provisions of LSA-C.Cr.P. Arts. 895 and 895.1 which require that before the sentencing court orders the payment of a fee to defray the expenses of probation supervision and the making of restitution to the Indigent Defender Board, it must suspend defendant’s sentence.

In State v. Frith, 561 So.2d 879 (La.App. 2 Cir.), writ denied, 571 So.2d 625 (La.1990), the defendant was convicted of simple burglary. He was sentenced to two years at hard labor and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine, $162.50 in restitution to the victim, $300.00 to the Indigent Defender Board, and all court costs. On appeal, on error patent review, the court held, in pertinent part:

Second, LSA-C.Cr.P. articles 895 and 895.1 authorize restitution and payment to the indigent defender program as a condition of probation only when the trial court suspends the imposition or execution of sentence. State v. Fluitt, 482 So.2d 906 (La.App. 2d Cir.1986); State v. Starks, 471 So.2d 1029 (La.App. 1st Cir.1985). In this case, the trial court did not suspend the two year hard [1162]*1162labor sentence. For this reason, the portion of the sentence ordering restitution and payment to the indigent defender program is illegal. Therefore, we further correct the sentence to delete that portion ordering restitution and payment to the indigent defender program. C.Cr.P. art. 882.

Id. at 883.

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 895.1 provides, in pertinent part:

B. When a court suspends the imposition or the execution of a sentence and places the defendant on probation, it may in its discretion, order placed, as a condition of probation, an amount of money to be paid by the defendant to any or all of the following:
(1) To the indigent defender program for that court.
(2) To the criminal court fund to defray the costs of operation of that court.
(3) To the sheriff and clerk of court for costs incurred.
(4) To a law enforcement agency for the reasonable costs incurred in arresting the defendant, in felony cases involving the distribution of or intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.

Lin this case, the trial court did not suspend imposition or execution of Defendant’s sentence and place him on probation; therefore, we find that the trial court lacked authority to order payment to the Public Defender’s Office as part of the principal sentence. Accordingly, we amend Defendant’s sentence, deleting the $500.00 fine and costs and the provision requiring the $500.00 payment to the Public Defender’s Office. The trial court is instructed to note the amendment in its court minutes.

Additionally, the trial court erred in ordering Defendant, in the event of default of payment, to serve an additional six months in jail. In State v. Major, 03-249, pp. 2-3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/2/05), 898 So.2d 548, 550-51, this court explained in pertinent part:

It is well-settled that “[a]n indigent person may not be incarcerated because he is unable to pay a fine which is part of his sentence. Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 103 S.Ct. 2064, 76 L.Ed.2d 221 (1983).” State v. Zabaleta, 96-2449, p. 1 (La.3/7/97), 689 So.2d 1369. The need for incarceration raises an issue when fines or costs are not paid, because La.Code Crim.P. art. 884 requires that, when a trial court imposes a fine or costs, it must also impose a specified term of imprisonment in the event the defendant defaults on payment of the fine or costs.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
88 So. 3d 1159, 11 La.App. 3 Cir. 948, 2012 WL 716274, 2012 La. App. LEXIS 263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-belton-lactapp-2012.