Weeks v. United States
Weeks v. United States
Opinion of the Court
Appellant was convicted of attempted burglary in the second degree,
It is true that the three offenses with which we are concerned are crimes against property, committed in a single course of conduct.
It is seldom possible to ascertain with any degree of certainty a legislative intent as to cumulative punishment. However, Congress has recently made it clear that in its estimation burglary in the second degree is so serious a crime as to require, upon conviction, a mandatory minimum sentence of two years.
To hold that under the circumstances of this case the trial judge could not in his discretion impose consecutive sentences would be to subvert the intent of Congress rather than to doubt it.
Affirmed.
. D.C.Code 1967, § 22-103; § 22-1801 (b) (Supp. II, 1968).
. D.C.Code 1967, § 22-403.
. D.C.Code 1967, § 22-2202.
. See, e.g., Barringer v. United States, 130 U.S.App.D.C. 186, 399 F.2d 557 (1968).
. We have had occasion, at the direction of the United States Court of Appeals, to consider the propriety of consecutive sentences for attempted petit larceny and destroying movable property where the two crimes were committed in an attempt to pry open the locked trunk of an automobile. We reversed and remanded for resentencing. Watson v. United States, Nos. 4252 and 4253 (unpublished order dated June 18, 1968).
. D.C.Code 1967, § 22-1801 (b) (Supp. II, 1968).
. Cf. Jenkins v. United States, D.C.App., 242 A.2d 214 (1968).
Concurring Opinion
(concurring) :
I concur on the ground that consecutive sentences may be given for convictions under the burglary and larceny statutes. Morgan v. Devine, 237 U.S. 632, 35 S.Ct. 712, 59 L.Ed. 1153 (1915). While the propriety of' consecutive sentences for offenses arising from one continuous transaction is currently under scrutiny,
Though appellant was actually convicted of attempted burglary (second degree) rather than burglary, this factor does not invalidate the consecutive sentences imposed here as a conviction for an attempt is valid even though the completed act is proved at trial. United States v. Fleming, D.C.App., 215 A.2d 839 (1966). It is un
. See, e.g., Irby v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 17, 390 F.2d 432 (1967).
. Cf. Prince v. United States, 352 U.S. 322, 325, 328 note 9, 77 S.Ct. 403, 1 L.Ed.2d 370. See also Clark v. United States, 267 F.2d 99 (4th Cir. 1959) ; Hamilton v. United States, 253 F.2d 421 (5th Cir. 1958).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Richard M. WEEKS, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES, Appellee
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published