State v. Flores

505 P.3d 507, 317 Or. App. 288
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedFebruary 2, 2022
DocketA172701
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 505 P.3d 507 (State v. Flores) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Flores, 505 P.3d 507, 317 Or. App. 288 (Or. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

On appellant’s petition for reconsideration filed July 22, 2021; reconsideration allowed, former disposition (313 Or App 153, 490 P3d 190) withdrawn, reversed and remanded for resentencing, otherwise affirmed February 2, 2022

STATE OF OREGON, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. JOSE HERNANDEZ FLORES, Defendant-Appellant. Umatilla County Circuit Court 18CR22625; A172701 505 P3d 507

Defendant seeks reconsideration of the per curiam decision dismissing his appeal. State v. Flores, 313 Or App 153, 490 P3d 190 (2021). In that decision, the Oregon Court of Appeals accepted the state’s argument that defendant’s chal- lenge to conditions of probation was moot because of the existence of a subsequent judgment that continued probation on the same terms as the one that is the sub- ject of this appeal. The court reasoned that since defendant did not appeal the subsequent judgment continuing probation, a decision regarding the propriety of those conditions could have no practical effect and his appeal was therefore moot under State v. Nguyen, 298 Or App 139, 445 P3d 390 (2019). On reconsideration, defendant asserts that the court erred in applying the law when it dismissed his appeal as moot. He argues that a reversal of the probation conditions chal- lenged in this appeal would change the probation conditions referenced in the later judgment, thus granting relief. He also argues that it is not clear that the subsequent judgment was in fact appealable, and that, therefore, it was not clear that he could have challenged the conditions in an appeal of that subsequent judgment. Held: The court concluded that defendant’s appeal was not moot and granted reconsideration. As to the merits, the trial court erred in imposing all of the challenged probation conditions. Reconsideration allowed; former disposition withdrawn; reversed and remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.

Daniel J. Hill, Judge. Ernest G. Lannet, Chief Defender, Criminal Appellate Section, and Nora Coon, Deputy Public Defender, Office of Public Defense Services, for petition. Before Ortega, Presiding Judge, and Shorr, Judge, and Powers, Judge. ORTEGA, P. J. Reconsideration allowed; former disposition withdrawn; reversed and remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed. Cite as 317 Or App 288 (2022) 289

ORTEGA, P. J. Defendant seeks reconsideration of our per curiam decision dismissing his appeal. State v. Flores, 313 Or App 153, 490 P3d 190 (2021). We accepted the state’s argument that defendant’s challenge to conditions of probation was moot because of the existence of a subsequent judgment that continued probation on the same terms as the one which is the subject of this appeal. We noted that defendant did not appeal the subsequent judgment continuing probation and concluded that a decision regarding the propriety of those conditions could have no practical effect and that this appeal was therefore moot under State v. Nguyen, 298 Or App 139, 445 P3d 390 (2019).1 On reconsideration, defendant asserts that we erred in applying the law when we dismissed his appeal as moot. He argues that a reversal of the probation conditions chal- lenged in this appeal would change the probation conditions referenced in the later judgment, thus granting relief. He also argues that it is not clear that the subsequent judgment was in fact appealable, and that therefore it was not clear that he could have challenged the conditions in an appeal of that subsequent judgment. For the reasons that follow, we agree with defendant that his appeal was not moot, so we grant reconsideration to correct that error. As to the mer- its, we conclude that the trial court erred in imposing all of the challenged probation conditions. We therefore grant reconsideration, withdraw our former disposition, reverse and remand for resentencing, and otherwise affirm. The pertinent facts are not in dispute. Defendant was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) on the basis that he “unlawfully drove a vehicle upon a premises open to the public while under the influ- ence of intoxicating liquor.” He pleaded guilty to the charge,

1 Nguyen held, “in light of the unchallenged judgment in which the court re-imposed the same special probation conditions that defendant challenges on appeal, a decision of this court regarding the propriety of the way by which those con- ditions were initially imposed would have no practical effect because, in any event, defendant would continue to be subject to the identical conditions.” 298 Or App at 140. 290 State v. Flores

agreeing with the court that he was “driving a vehicle when [he was] under the influence of alcohol” and entered diversion. As part of defendant’s “petition and agreement” to enter diversion, he agreed to “[c]omplete an alcohol and drug abuse assessment and any recommended treatment,” and “not use alcohol or other intoxicants,” except pursuant to certain exceptions not relevant here. (Uppercase omitted.) The trial court later revoked his diversion based on his admission that he had consumed alcohol during the period of diversion. At defendant’s sentencing, the state requested that the court impose, in addition to an “alcohol package,” a “drug package” that included, among other con- ditions, that defendant not use or possess any controlled substances, including cannabis; not possess any drug para- phernalia, including smoking devices; not associate with any person known to use, sell or possess controlled substances; and not frequent places where illegal drugs or narcotics are used, sold, or kept. Defendant objected to the imposi- tion of those conditions reasoning that those conditions were not reasonably related to his DUII conviction, which only involved alcohol and did not involve other substances. The state responded that “intoxicants are intoxicants.” The court took a similar view stating, “That’s * * * evident from the legislative intent with the diversion package that * * * intoxicants are intoxicants. And so unless he’s got a prescription for marijuana now, he’d be prohibited from all uses of narcotics.” The court sentenced defendant to 36 months of probation, and, among other conditions, it imposed an “alcohol pack- age”2 and “drug package,”3 which contained all of the state’s 2 The alcohol package, in relevant part, ordered that defendant shall “1. Not consume or possess alcoholic beverages or non-prescription drugs. “2. Not enter or frequent any establishment whose primary income is derived from the sale of alcoholic beverages. “3. Undergo an alcohol evaluation and shall enter and complete an approved certified alcohol treatment program, including inpatient treatment (if neces- sary), comply with all follow-up treatment and pay all costs required.” 3 The drug package, in relevant part, ordered that defendant shall “1. Not use or possess any controlled substances. If on formal probation, the defendant shall notify probation officer of any prescriptions given by a doctor. “2. Not possess any drug paraphernalia, including smoking devices. Cite as 317 Or App 288 (2022) 291

requested drug-package conditions. The judgment contained a written notation that “controlled substances includes can- nabis.” (All uppercase omitted.) On appeal, defendant chal- lenges, on the same basis as he argued below, the court’s imposition of certain drug-package conditions. After defendant filed his opening brief, the trial court found him in violation of probation based on his admission that he had failed to pay financial obligations. The court entered a judgment continuing probation “on [the] same terms/conditions of [the] original sentence” and imposed an additional 40 hours of community service. In its answering brief, filed after entry of that judgment, the state argued that defendant’s appeal was moot because the challenged probation conditions were “re-imposed” in the subsequent judgment, which defendant did not appeal.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
505 P.3d 507, 317 Or. App. 288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-flores-orctapp-2022.