Denton v. State
Denton v. State
Opinion
On November 13, 1989, the trial court dismissed appellant's Rule 20, A.R.Cr.P.Temp., petition. In that petition, he challenged his guilty pleas to, and concurrent sentences for, five charges: leaving the scene of an accident, 5 years; unlawful possession of a controlled substance, 30; *Page 1077
possession of a short-barreled shotgun, 30 years; illegal possession of a pistol by a felon, 5 years; and unlawful sale of a controlled substance, 30 years. Appellant pleaded guilty to these charges on October 28, 1985. This court affirmed the convictions without opinion. Denton v. State,
This issue is properly before us. Since appellant's first Rule 20 petition was filed in June 1986, and denied on May 1, 1987, and Chambers was not decided until September 25, 1987, the successive petition procedural bar does not apply. Mitchellv. State,
We have taken judicial notice of the record on appeal of appellant's conviction. A review of this record supports appellant's assertion that his sentences for the two drug-related convictions were enhanced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act. In accordance with Chambers, relief under appellant's Rule 20 petition should have been granted. Therefore, we hold that the cause should be reversed and that the trial court should grant relief in the form of a new sentencing hearing for appellant's two drug convictions.
In the original proceedings, the trial court noted that appellant had two prior felony convictions. These convictions were not identified. From the indictment charging possession of a pistol after having been convicted of a felony, it can be ascertained that one of these prior felony convictions is for burglary. Only if the other conviction is for a drug-related offense and qualifies as a "second or subsequent offense" under §
The judgment of the circuit court denying the petition is, therefore, reversed, and this cause is remanded for resentencing consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
All the Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ricky W. Denton v. State.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published