State v. Jorgensen

2003 WI 105, 667 N.W.2d 318, 264 Wis. 2d 157, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 487
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 11, 2003
Docket01-2690-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 2003 WI 105 (State v. Jorgensen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Jorgensen, 2003 WI 105, 667 N.W.2d 318, 264 Wis. 2d 157, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 487 (Wis. 2003).

Opinions

JON E WILCOX, J.

¶ 1. This is a review of an unpublished court of appeals decision, State v. Jor-[162]*162gensen, No. 01-2690-CR, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. June 27, 2002),1 in which the court of appeals affirmed a judgment of conviction and order denying a postconviction motion entered by the Dane County Circuit Court, Steven D. Ebert, Judge. The defendant, Patty Jorgensen, contends that the court of appeals erred in affirming her conviction for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, fourth offense, and the denial of her postconviction motion. She now seeks relief from this court on the ground that the sentencing guidelines established by the Fifth Judicial District for certain "operating while intoxicated" offenses under the authority of Wis. Stat. § 346.65(2m)(a), are unconstitutional. Jorgensen claims the circuit court violated her rights to due process and equal protection of the laws by relying upon the local guidelines authorized by § 346.65(2m)(a). She asserts the guidelines operate to increase disparity in sentencing based only on the geographic location of the offense. Jorgensen further claims that the guidelines relied upon by the court exceed the authority granted by the legislature in § 346.65(2m)(a) and that the guidelines, on their face, are inapplicable to her.

¶ 2. We hold that the sentencing guidelines established by the Fifth Judicial District are authorized by Wis. Stat. § 346.65(2m)(a). We further conclude that under the plain language of § 346.65(2m)(a), the sentencing guidelines apply only to Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(b), not Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a), under [163]*163which Jorgensen was sentenced. However, because circuit courts have a great amount of sentencing discretion, we find that reference to the sentencing guidelines in a § 346.63(l)(a) case does not constitute error. That being the case, a defendant such as Jorgensen sentenced under § 346.63(l)(a) may potentially be sentenced by a court referring to the sentencing guidelines established for § 346.63(l)(b). Therefore, we must address Jorgensen's argument that these guidelines are unconstitutional. We agree with the court of appeals' conclusion that the sentencing guidelines are constitutional and, accordingly, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

¶ 3. For purposes of this appeal, the following facts are not in dispute. In the early morning hours of May 21, 1999, a witness found Jorgensen in her vehicle in a ditch near his home and summoned police. Responding officers found Jorgensen asleep in the driver's seat of her vehicle. Jorgensen failed field sobriety tests administered by the police, and she was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Subsequent blood testing showed that Jorgensen's blood alcohol content was .276.

¶ 4. Jorgensen was charged with violating Wis. Stat. § 346.63(1)(a) and Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(b).2 She utilized her right to a jury trial. She stipulated to many [164]*164of the facts and the only issue remaining for jury determination was whether or not Jorgensen was the person operating the vehicle. At trial, Jorgensen claimed that another person was driving.

■¶ 5. A jury found Jorgensen guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant (OWI) in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(a) and of operating a motor vehicle while having a prohibited blood alcohol concentration (PAC) in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(b), either of which would constitute her fourth "operating under the influence" offense.

¶ 6. Section 346.63(l)(c) of the Wisconsin Statutes provides that although a defendant may be charged and prosecuted for both OWI and PAC, violations of §§ 346.63(l)(a) and (b), respectively, a defendant may not be "convicted" and sentenced for both OWI and PAC if the charges arise out of the same incident or occurrence. Rather, "[i]f the person is found guilty of both pars, (a) and (b) for acts arising out of the same incident or occurrence, there shall be a single conviction for purposes of sentencing and for purposes of counting convictions under ss. 343.30(lq) and 343.305." Wis. Stat. § 346.63(l)(c). Jorgensen's judgment of conviction was entered on the OWI count, § 346.63(l)(a).

¶ 7. The sentencing guidelines at issue, the "Fifth Judicial District OWI Sentencing Guidelines," were established by the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District under the authority granted by the legislature in Wis. Stat. § 346.65(2m)(a).3 For a fourth offense such [165]*165as the one here, the guidelines are provided in a table format and include factors to consider and corresponding sentencing recommendations. The horizontal headings on the table are: "BAC Levels," "Minimum Driving No Accident," and "Aggravated Driving Accident or Injury Bad Driving Record." The specific guideline relevant to sentencing in this case provided that for a fourth offense, a defendant with a blood alcohol content level of .20 or above faces periods of incarceration with ranges of 60 to 150 days and 90 days to one year, depending upon the court's determination of the specific circumstances surrounding the offense.

¶ 8. At sentencing on September 7, 2000, both the prosecutor and defense counsel made arguments based on these sentencing guidelines. Explicitly noting guideline factors, the State requested an eight- to nine-month sentence. Defense counsel did not dispute application of the guidelines at the time. Rather, Jorgensen's counsel noted the guideline provisions and argued that a three-month sentence was more appropriate under the circumstances. After hearing these arguments, the circuit court, explicitly referencing the sentencing guidelines, sentenced Jorgensen to seven months in jail.

[166]*166¶ 9. Jorgensen filed a motion for postconviction relief on several grounds, including the issue now before this court, whether the circuit court erroneously relied upon local sentencing guidelines because § 346.65(2m)(a), the authorizing statute, is unconstitutional. The circuit court denied the motion.

¶ 10. Jorgensen appealed from both the judgment of conviction and the order denying her motion for postconviction relief. She again claimed that the sentencing guidelines relied Upon by the circuit court were unconstitutional.4

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Bluebook (online)
2003 WI 105, 667 N.W.2d 318, 264 Wis. 2d 157, 2003 Wisc. LEXIS 487, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-jorgensen-wis-2003.