State v. Bennett

731 P.2d 284, 240 Kan. 575, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 256
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedJanuary 16, 1987
Docket59,106
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 731 P.2d 284 (State v. Bennett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bennett, 731 P.2d 284, 240 Kan. 575, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 256 (kan 1987).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Schroeder, C.J.:

This is a direct appeal from the concurrent sentences imposed against the defendant of five to twenty years for aggravated criminal sodomy (K.S.A. 1985 Supp. 21-3506) and three to ten years for aggravated burglary (K.S.A. 21-3716). The defendant pled guilty to the charges.

After sentencing the defendant on the basis of arguments made by counsel and the content of the presentence investigation report, the trial court indicated it would consider a report from the Kansas State Reception and Diagnostic Center (KSRDC) for *576 purposes of modification of the sentence. The defendant’s attorney had strongly argued for probation or a suspended sentence. At the time of sentencing, the district court stated only that a “very violent crime” was involved. It did not state on the record the factors it considered in arriving at the defendant’s particular sentence. The defendant moved for a modification of sentence and, at a hearing held on that motion, the district court had before it the report from the KSRDC. The report stated that the defendant hoped that if he were placed in the penal system he could be trained for the construction trade in order to get a better job when he was released from incarceration. The report recommended training for the defendant, stating he was capable of becoming a carpenter’s helper. In its journal entry denying the defendant’s motion for modification of sentence, the district court stated it “strongly recommends that the Secretary of Corrections provide job training for the defendant during his incarceration, and particularly receive consideration for such training at the Kansas Correction and Vocational Training Center.” The journal entry does not state the particular factors considered by the district court in denying the defendant’s motion for modification of sentence.

The defendant asserts two issues on appeal. The first is that “the trial court failed to sentence Mr. Bennett in a manner that would have a reasonable chance of achieving the goal of vocational rehabilitation that it felt was most important in Mr. Bennett’s case.” The second is that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to state on the record its consideration of the sentencing criteria set forth in K.S.A. 21-4606.

The State argues this court has no jurisdiction to hear this appeal pursuant to State v. Haines, 238 Kan. 478, 712 P.2d 1211, cert. denied_U.S._(1986), because the defendant fails to allege that the sentence is the result of partiality, prejudice, or corrupt motive.

State v. Haines, 238 Kan. 478, was overruled in part by State v. Harrold, 239 Kan. 645, 722 P.2d 563 (1986), which was decided after the parties’ briefs were submitted. In Harrold, a majority of this court held that, pursuant to K.S.A. 22-3602(a), a direct appeal may be taken from a sentence imposed when the defendant pleads guilty or nolo contendere. This court further held that it is not necessary to allege the sentence is the result of partiality, *577 prejudice, or corrupt motive in order to present a justiciable issue. 239 Kan. at 649. Therefore, this court does have jurisdiction to hear the defendant’s challenges to the sentence imposed.

Turning to the defendant’s argument that the trial court failed to sentence him in a manner which would further vocational rehabilitation, it appears the defendant is complaining he was not placed by the Secretary of Corrections in a work release program or in an institution where he could receive vocational training.

We note the relevant statutory scheme. In sentencing the defendant to the custody of the Secretary of Corrections, the sentencing court can make a recommendation regarding rehabilitation in its journal entry. K.S.A. 21-4620(b)(3). Upon receipt of the report of the Kansas State Reception and Diagnostic Center, the Secretary of Corrections selects one of the state correctional institutions for the defendant’s confinement based upon the examinations and studies made of the defendant. K.S.A. 75-5262. Thereafter, the Secretary of Corrections may transfer an inmate serving a sentence of imprisonment from one institution to another. K.S.A. 21-4609.

It is the sentencing court that determines the length of the defendant’s incarceration. While that court can make recommendations regarding rehabilitation, the sentencing court cannot determine where the defendant will serve his time. That decision is statutorily to be decided by the Secretary of Corrections in the exercise of his discretion. Therefore, the defendant’s complaint lies not with the sentencing court but with the Secretary of Corrections. The issue of whether the Secretary of Corrections has abused the exercise of his discretion is not a justiciable issue on this direct appeal from the sentence imposed. The court has no jurisdiction to consider it on this appeal.

Next, the defendant argues the trial court abused its discretion by failing to state on the record the factors it considered when imposing sentences and when considering the defendant’s motion to modify the sentences.

The defendant was sentenced to five to twenty years on the aggravated criminal sodomy charge, which is the statutory minimum set by law. K.S.A. 1985 Supp. 21-4501(b). The defendant was sentenced to three to ten years on the aggravated burglary charge, which is the statutory minimum sentence. K.S.A. 1985 *578 Supp. 21-4501(c). The journal entry was silent regarding the concurrent or consecutive nature of the two sentences and, pursuant to statute, the sentences are to be served concurrently. K.S.A. 1985 Supp. 21-4608(1).

K.S.A. 21-4606 sets forth seven factors which, while not controlling, are to be considered by a sentencing court in fixing the minimum term of imprisonment. In State v. Buckner, 223 Kan. 138, 574 P.2d 918

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
731 P.2d 284, 240 Kan. 575, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 256, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bennett-kan-1987.