State v. Delgado
State v. Delgado
Opinion
Under recent changes to juvenile sentencing law, a court may not sentence a juvenile who has been convicted of murder to life imprisonment without parole unless the court considers mitigating factors associated with the juvenile's young age at the time of the crime. In the present appeal, we must determine how these changes in juvenile sentencing law impact individuals who were sentenced before the changes occurred. The defendant, Melvin Delgado, was sentenced to sixty-five years imprisonment without parole in 1996 for crimes that he committed when he was sixteen years old. Although he is now eligible for parole following the passage of No. 15-84 of the 2015 Public Acts (P.A. 15-84), 1 he filed a motion to correct his allegedly illegal sentence, claiming that he is entitled to be resentenced because the judge who sentenced him failed to consider youth related mitigating factors. The trial court rejected the defendant's claim and dismissed his motion to correct, and the defendant has appealed to this court. We affirm the trial court's dismissal of the motion to correct.
The following facts and procedural history are relevant to the present appeal. The defendant was convicted of accessory to murder in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-54a and 53a-8, and commission of a class A, B or C felony with a firearm in violation of General Statutes § 53-202k. On December 16, 1996, the trial court,
Corrigan
,
J.
, rendered judgment sentencing the defendant to a total effective sentence of sixty-five years imprisonment without parole. On appeal, this court affirmed the judgment with respect to the murder conviction but vacated the judgment with respect to the weapons charge.
State
v
.
Delgado
,
In 2014, the defendant filed a motion to correct his sentence pursuant to Practice Book § 43-22, 3 contending that a prison term that is equivalent to life imprisonment without parole constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment to the United States constitution and article first, §§ 8 and 9, of the Connecticut constitution. 4 The defendant further argued that his sentence was illegal because he had not been given a meaningful opportunity for release from prison, and that the sentence had been imposed in an illegal manner because he was not afforded an individualized sentencing hearing at which the court could consider specific mitigating factors associated with his young age at the time of the crime of which he was convicted. The trial court, Alexander , J. , did not reach the merits of the motion to correct but dismissed the motion for lack of jurisdiction, from which dismissal the defendant now appeals.
I
PRINCIPLES OF JUVENILE SENTENCING LAW
Before turning to the defendant's claims, we consider recent changes to juvenile sentencing law that guide our analysis. As this court explained in
State
v
.
Riley
,
Roper
v
. Sim
mons
,
In
Riley
, this court characterized
Miller
as standing for two propositions: "(1) that a lesser sentence than life without parole must be available for a juvenile offender; and (2) that the sentencer must consider age related evidence as mitigation when deciding whether to irrevocably sentence juvenile offenders to a [term of life imprisonment, or its equivalent, without parole]."
State
v
.
Riley
, supra,
Several months after Riley was decided, this court concluded that the required sentencing considerations identified in Miller applied retroactively in collateral proceedings.
Casiano
v
.
Commissioner of Correc
tion
,
Subsequently, the United States Supreme Court decided
Montgomery
v
.
Louisiana
, --- U.S. ----,
Most recently, the Appellate Court considered the impact of P.A. 15-84 and concluded that, "for juvenile offenders who were entitled to be, but were not, sentenced with consideration of the mitigating factors of youth as required by
Miller
, [an opportunity for parole under P.A. 15-84] offers a constitutionally adequate remedy under the eighth amendment to those who qualify for parole under its provisions."
State
v.
Williams-Bey
,
II
JURISDICTION
With this background in mind, we consider the merits of the defendant's claim that the trial court improperly
dismissed his motion to correct for lack of jurisdiction. "[A] generally accepted rule of the common law is that a sentence cannot be modified by the trial court ... if the sentence was valid and execution of it has commenced." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
State
v.
Parker
,
In the present case, the defendant alleged in his motion to correct that his sentence (1) was illegal because it constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the eighth amendment, as interpreted by Miller , (2) was imposed in an illegal manner because the trial court did not consider the mitigating factors of youth in sentencing him to the equivalent of life without parole, and (3) was illegal because it did not afford him a reasonable opportunity for parole. The defendant now concedes that his third and final claim has been resolved by the enactment of P.A. 15-84, which ensures that he is eligible for parole. We therefore turn to whether the trial court had jurisdiction over the motion to correct on the basis of the allegations that the sentence was illegal and imposed in an illegal manner in violation of the eighth amendment. 6
We apply plenary review in addressing this question of law. See id., 840,
When the defendant filed his motion to correct in 2014, he was serving a sentence of sixty-five years, which is equivalent to life imprisonment, and he was not eligible for parole. Because
Miller
prohibits a trial court from sentencing a juvenile convicted of murder to life imprisonment without parole unless the court has considered youth related mitigating factors, the defendant's allegation that the trial court failed to give due consideration to these factors raised a colorable claim of invalidity that, if decided in his favor, would require resentencing. See, e.g.,
State
v.
Williams-Bey , supra,
Following the enactment of P.A. 15-84, however, the defendant is now eligible for parole and can no longer claim that he is serving a sentence of life imprisonment, or its equivalent, without parole. The eighth amendment, as interpreted by
Miller
, does not prohibit a court from imposing a sentence of life imprisonment
with
the opportunity for parole for a juvenile homicide offender, nor does it require the court to consider the mitigating factors of youth before imposing such a sentence. See
Miller
v.
Alabama
, supra,
This conclusion is consistent with the law in other jurisdictions that have considered this issue and have concluded that Miller simply does not apply when a juvenile's sentence provides an opportunity for parole; that is, a sentencing court has no constitutionally founded obligation to consider any specific youth related factors under such circumstances. 7 Moreover, the reasoning in these cases is consistent with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Montgomery , in which the court clarified that the rights delineated in Graham and Miller apply retroactively to individuals who have been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. See Montgomery v . Louisiana , supra, 136 S. Ct. at 736. The court also indicated that, for those who had received such a sentence without consideration of youth related mitigating factors, resentencing was not necessary because constitutional concerns would be satisfied by providing such individuals with an opportunity for parole. See id.
Because
Miller
and
Riley
do not require a trial court to consider any particular mitigating factors associated with a juvenile's young age before imposing a sentence that includes an opportunity for parole, the defendant can no longer allege, after the passage of P.A. 15-84, that his sentence was imposed in an illegal manner on the ground that the trial court failed to take these factors into account. Such an allegation is an essential predicate to the trial court's jurisdiction to correct the sentence. An allegation that the court failed to consider youth related factors before imposing a sentence of life
with parole
is not
sufficient to establish a jurisdictional basis for correcting a sentence. See
State
v.
Parker , supra,
In reaching this conclusion, we are mindful of the general principle that "jurisdiction once acquired is not lost or divested by subsequent events." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
RAL Management, Inc
.
v
.
Valley View Associates
,
We further emphasize that the defendant is not entitled to resentencing under P.A. 15-84, § 2, codified as amended at General Statutes (Supp. 2016) § 54-91g, which requires the trial court to consider youth related mitigating factors before sentencing a juvenile convicted of a class A or B felony. The defendant does not expressly claim that this provision applies to him retroactively, and, in any event, the text of P.A. 15-84, § 2, does not support any such assertion. There are ten sections in P.A. 15-84, four of which specify that they are "[e]ffective October 1, 2015, and applicable to any person convicted prior to, on or after said date." (Emphasis omitted.) P.A. 15-84, §§ 6 through 9. In contrast, P.A. 15-84, § 2, provides it is "[e]ffective October 1, 2015," indicating that the legislature did not intend for this section to apply retroactively. Moreover, there is nothing in the text of General Statutes (Supp. 2016) § 54-91g or the legislative history of P.A. 15-84 to suggest that the legislature intended that all juveniles convicted of a class A or B felony who were sentenced without consideration of the age related mitigating factors identified in Miller would be resentenced. In sum, even if the defendant had alleged that his sentence was imposed in an illegal manner because the trial court failed to adhere to the requirements of P.A. 15-84, § 2, he would not be able to demonstrate that that provision applies to him. 9 Finally, we are not persuaded by several arguments advanced by the defendant. First, the defendant contends that Montgomery "does not limit Connecticut to using parole eligibility as the sole remedy for Miller violations" and refers to the legislature's decision to require both "a Miller compliant sentencing hearing and an opportunity for parole" to suggest that resentencing is required. (Emphasis in original.) Although we agree that the text of P.A. 15-84 reflects the legislature's intent to require both of these elements, as we have explained, the text indicates that the requirement of a Miller compliant sentencing hearing does not apply retroactively. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we reject this argument.
Second, the defendant argues that " Montgomery does not ... supersede the final and controlling precedent in Riley and Casiano , which provide a new sentencing hearing as the remedy for sentences that are illegal or were imposed in an illegal manner ...." As we noted in this opinion, however, neither Riley nor Casiano requires the sentencing court to consider specific youth related mitigating factors before imposing a sentence of life with an opportunity for parole . Furthermore, the defendant's entitlement to parole consideration under P.A. 15-84 defeats any claim challenging the propriety of his original sentence insofar as that sentence precluded any possibility of an early release. In short, because the defendant cannot raise a viable claim that his sentence was illegal or was imposed in an illegal manner under Riley and Casiano , neither case requires resentencing.
Third, the defendant posits that this court previously recognized that "parole legislation would not appropriately address Miller claims" when it decided Riley and Casiano and acknowledged that Graham and Miller claims are separate and distinct. The fact that this court drew a distinction between those claims, however, simply does not support the proposition that this court previously determined that an opportunity for parole is insufficient to remedy a trial court's failure to account for the mitigating factors of youth. Because the defendant's remaining claims in his motion to correct no longer fall within the purview of Miller , the motion fails to allege a claim that, if proven, would require resentencing. In the absence of a viable claim that the sentence is illegal or was imposed in an illegal manner, the sentencing court lacks jurisdiction to correct the sentence.
The trial court's dismissal of the defendant's motion to correct an illegal sentence is affirmed.
In this opinion the other justices concurred.
Section 1 of No. 15-84 of the 2015 Public Acts, codified at General Statutes (Supp. 2016) § 54-125a, provides in relevant part: "(f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section, a person convicted of one or more crimes committed while such person was under eighteen years of age, who is incarcerated on or after October 1, 2015, and who received a definite sentence or total effective sentence of more than ten years for such crime or crimes prior to, on or after October 1, 2015, may be allowed to go at large on parole in the discretion of the panel of the Board of Pardons and Paroles for the institution in which such person is confined, provided (A) if such person is serving a sentence of fifty years or less, such person shall be eligible for parole after serving sixty per cent of the sentence or twelve years, whichever is greater, or (B) if such person is serving a sentence of more than fifty years, such person shall be eligible for parole after serving thirty years. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a person's eligibility for parole release under the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section if such person would be eligible for parole release at an earlier date under any of such provisions.
"(2) The board shall apply the parole eligibility rules of this subsection only with respect to the sentence for a crime or crimes committed while a person was under eighteen years of age. ...
"(3) Whenever a person becomes eligible for parole release pursuant to this subsection, the board shall hold a hearing to determine such person's suitability for parole release. ...
* * *
"(5) After such hearing, the board shall articulate for the record its decision and the reasons for its decision. If the board determines that continued confinement is necessary, the board may reassess such person's suitability for a new parole hearing at a later date to be determined at the discretion of the board, but not earlier than two years after the date of its decision.
"(6) The decision of the board under this subsection shall not be subject to appeal. ..."
Section 2 of No. 15-84 of the 2015 Public Acts, codified as amended at General Statutes (Supp. 2016) § 54-91g, provides in relevant part: "(a) If the case of a child ... is transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court ... and the child is convicted of a class A or B felony pursuant to such transfer, at the time of sentencing, the court shall:
"(1) Consider, in addition to any other information relevant to sentencing, the defendant's age at the time of the offense, the hallmark features of adolescence, and any scientific and psychological evidence showing the differences between a child's brain development and an adult's brain development; and
"(2) Consider, if the court proposes to sentence the child to a lengthy sentence under which it is likely that the child will die while incarcerated, how the scientific and psychological evidence described in subdivision (1) of this subsection counsels against such a sentence.
"(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-91a of the general statutes, no presentence investigation or report may be waived with respect to a child convicted of a class A or B felony. ...
"(c) Whenever a child is sentenced pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the court shall indicate the maximum period of incarceration that may apply to the child and whether the child may be eligible to apply for release on parole pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 54-125a of the general statutes, as amended by this act. ..."
On appeal, this court agreed with the defendant's claim that a separate conviction under § 53-202k was improper because that statute is a sentence enhancement provision and not a distinct offense.
State
v.
Delgado , supra,
Practice Book § 43-22 provides: "The judicial authority may at any time correct an illegal sentence or other illegal disposition, or it may correct a sentence imposed in an illegal manner or any other disposition made in an illegal manner."
The eighth amendment to the United States constitution provides: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
On appeal, the defendant has not raised or briefed any separate arguments or claims under the state constitution. Because, for purposes of this appeal, the defendant does not contend that the state constitution affords him any greater rights than he possesses under the federal constitution, we limit our analysis to his federal constitutional claim. See, e.g.,
Barros
v
.
Barros
,
A
Miller
claim or
Miller
violation refers to the sentencing court's obligation to consider a juvenile's age and circumstances related to age at an individualized sentencing hearing as mitigating factors before imposing a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. See
Miller
v
.
Alabama
,
Because the defendant was not sentenced pursuant to a mandatory sentencing scheme, the trial court concluded that the holding in Miller did not apply to the defendant's case and dismissed the motion to correct for lack of jurisdiction. The state now concedes, and we agree, that the trial court incorrectly concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over the defendant's motion to correct at that time. The motion, at that point, raised a viable claim by alleging that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole had been imposed without consideration of youth related mitigating factors. As we discuss subsequently in this opinion, however, the defendant is now eligible for parole and can no longer claim that he is serving a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. We therefore conclude that the trial court no longer possesses jurisdiction over the defendant's motion to correct.
See
Fisher
v
. Haynes
, United States District Court, Docket No. C15-5747 (BHS),
Our conclusion that the defendant does not need to be resentenced is also consistent with the Appellate Court's decision in
State
v.
Williams-Bey
,
Although the text of P.A. 15-84 seems clear insofar as the retroactivity issue is concerned, to the extent that there is any ambiguity in the applicable statutory language, the pertinent legislative history clarifies that the legislature did not intend for this provision to apply retroactively. The limited discussion on this topic occurred before the Judiciary Committee. Attorney Robert Farr, a member of the working group of the Connecticut Sentencing Commission, which helped craft the proposed legislative language, discussed how the legislation would affect previously sentenced individuals. See Conn. Joint Standing Committee Hearings, Judiciary, Pt. 2, 2015 Sess., pp. 949, 955-56. He first mentioned this court's decision in Riley , in which the defendant in that case had been sentenced to 100 years in prison and then resentenced, and noted that, under the proposed legislation, "instead of having to worry about resentencing what would have happened is in [thirty] years, [twenty-one] years from now there will be a parole hearing and then that parole hearing would decide whether [the defendant in Riley ] was going to be-get another parole hearing .... So it gave some resolution to this which was consistent we believe with the federal-with the [United States] Supreme Court cases." Id., p. 956, remarks of Attorney Farr.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Connecticut v. Melvin DELGADO
- Cited By
- 40 cases
- Status
- Published