State v. McCarley

166 P.3d 418, 38 Kan. App. 2d 165
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedSeptember 19, 2007
Docket95,818
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 166 P.3d 418 (State v. McCarley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals 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. McCarley, 166 P.3d 418, 38 Kan. App. 2d 165 (kanctapp 2007).

Opinions

Greene, J.:

The State of Kansas appeals the district court’s denial of its motion to correct an illegal sentence, arguing that the court had a duty to correct the sentence after the defendant, Steven M. McCarley, was sentenced based upon a presentence investigation report (PSI) that misidentified the correct severity level for die precise crime of conviction. We conclude that the State’s stipulation to the PSI at time of sentencing and the State’s failure to timely appeal the sentence require that we affirm the district court. We also conclude that McCarley’s cross-appeal is meritless.

Factual and Procedural Background

After a fender-bender in a grocery store parking lot, McCarley and the driver of the other vehicle engaged in a heated argument regarding degree of damage. When the other driver walked to a pay phone to call the police, McCarley attempted to leave the scene. The other driver’s passenger inquired into McCarley’s attempt to leave, and McCarley invited him to sit down in McCarley’s vehicle and discuss the matter. According to the passenger, however, he never shut the door of the vehicle when McCarley accelerated, made a turn, and pushed the passenger from the vehicle. Observing McCarley’s escape, the other driver returned from the pay phone and attempted to abate the departure; McCarley bumped her in the chest with his vehicle. McCarley was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, one against the driver, and one against the passenger.

The jury was instructed on lesser included offenses and, specifically on count two, was instructed on the elements of aggravated reckless battery as requiring the material finding that “McCarley recklessly caused great bodily harm or disfigurement to Nicola ‘Nick’ Cosentino” and that this occurred “on or about the 3rd day of April, 2005, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.” The jury acquitted McCarley of the charges involving the driver, but convicted him of the lesser offense of reckless aggravated battery against the passenger. The formal “Record of Trial or Plea” identified the guilty verdict on count two, “Aggravated Reckless Battery” without further identification of statutory proscription or severity level.

[168]*168At time of sentencing, the PSI listed the crime of conviction as aggravated reckless battery, severity level 8, pursuant to K.S.A. 21-3414(a)(2)(B). When the district court inquired of counsel whether there was any question as to severity level or criminal history reported by the PSI, both counsel stipulated that it was correct. This exchange went as follows:

“(The Court): The Presentence Investigation shows this to be a severity level 8 offense, shows Mr. McCarley to have a criminal history score of A. Any dispute by the State as to severity level or criminal history — criminal history — with severity level?
“[Prosecutor]: No, your Honor.”

McCarley was then sentenced for a severity level 8 person felony to 23 months’ incarceration.

After time for appeal had expired, and approximately 34 days after sentencing, the State filed its motion to correct illegal sentence, claiming that McCarley was illegally sentenced to a severity level 8 crime when he was convicted of a severity level 5 crime. Although these lesser included offenses are similar, K.S.A. 21-3414(a)(2)(A) (severity level 5) proscribes “recklessly causing great bodily harm to another person . . .” whereas K.S.A. 21-3414(a) (2)(B) (severity level 8) proscribes “recklessly causing bodily harm to another person with a deadly weapon, or in any manner whereby great bodily harm . . . can be inflicted.” After a hearing, the district judge denied the motion, stating:

“I think the case law is very clear. It’s not — there is a bright line, and that bright line is, when I hear that door in the back of the courtroom go click as it closes behind Mr. McCarley, I can’t correct an illegal sentence if that illegal sentence is in Mr. McCarley’s favor. I can correct it if it is not in his favor. If there’s an illegal sentence that favors a harsher, longer sentence, that is subject to correction. However, if it’s in favor of the defendant for a lesser, less harsh sentence, it cannot be corrected. And I have to overrule the motion.”

The State appeals, and McCarley cross-appeals.

Was the State Entitled to Challenge McCarley’s Sentence On Appeal?

During oral argument, this court expressed a concern for its jurisdiction, inquiring whether the State had the right to appeal [169]*169the district court’s denial of the motion to correct illegal sentence. We have a duty to question jurisdiction on our own initiative. State v. Wendler, 280 Kan. 753, 755, 126 P.3d 1124 (2006). Following argument the State filed a statement of additional authorities pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 6.09(b) (2006 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 44). We have duly considered these authorities in addressing our jurisdiction.

The right to appeal is strictly a statutory right. Neither the United States Constitution nor the Kansas Constitution establishes the right to appeal. State v. Flynn, 274 Kan. 473, 477, 55 P.3d 324 (2002). “The State’s right to appeal in a criminal case is strictly statutory, and the appellate court has jurisdiction to entertain a State’s appeal only if it is taken within time limitations and in the manner prescribed by the applicable statutes. State v. Unruh, 263 Kan. 185, 189, 946 P.2d 1369 (1997).” State v. Snodgrass, 267 Kan. 185, 196, 979 P.2d 664 (1999).

K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-3602(b) lists the following grounds for which the prosecution can appeal:

“Appeals to the court of appeals may be taken by the prosecution from cases before a district judge as a matter of right in the following cases, and no others:
“(1) From an order dismissing a complaint, information or indictment;
“(2) from an order arresting judgment;
“(3) upon a question reserved by the prosecution; or
“(4) upon an order granting a new trial in any case involving a class A or B felony or for crimes committed on or after July 1, 1993, in any case involving an off-grid crime.”

K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-3602(f) adds “[f]or crimes committed on or after July 1,1993, an appeal by the prosecution or the defendant relating to sentences imposed pursuant to a presumptive sentencing guidelines system as provided in K.S.A. 21-4701 et seq. and amendments thereto, shall be as provided in K.S.A. 21-4721 and amendments thereto.”

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Hankins
319 P.3d 571 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2014)
State v. McCarley
195 P.3d 230 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2008)
Attorney General Opinion No.
Kansas Attorney General Reports, 2008
State v. McCarley
166 P.3d 418 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
166 P.3d 418, 38 Kan. App. 2d 165, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mccarley-kanctapp-2007.