Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1986

State v. Donnell

State v. Donnell
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · Decided April 8, 1986 · Glassman, McKusick, Nichols, Roberts, Scolnik, Wathen
507 A.2d 1056; 1986 Me. LEXIS 729 (Atlantic Reporter, Second Series)

State v. Donnell

Opinion of the Court

NICHOLS, Justice.

The Defendant, Nelson Donnell, appeals from two judgments entered after a jury trial in Superior Court (Kennebec County).

One of the two charges against the Defendant was for operating a motorcycle July 4, 1983, on Whitten Road, Augusta, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, 29 M.R.S.A. § 1312-B. We have examined the issues raised by the Defendant in connection therewith, and they are without merit. We affirm the judgment.

The second of the two charges against the Defendant has a more unique history. The Defendant was charged, and found by the jury guilty, of then and there eluding a law enforcement officer in a high-speed chase after being signalled to stop, 29 M.R.S.A. § 2501-A(3), which is a Class D offense. After the verdict, and upon the Defendant’s motion for acquittal, on September 14, 1984, the Superior Court vacated this conviction and imposed a sentence on the Defendant for failure to stop upon the signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer, 29 M.R.S.A. § 2501-A(2). *1057The latter is a Class E offense, and it is distinguishable from the former by the requirement that the officer be uniformed. It is not a lesser included offense. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 13-A(2).

The Superior Court’s order acquitted the Defendant of the crime of which the jury had found him guilty. Moreover, it was obvious error to sentence the Defendant for a crime with which he had not been charged and for which he had not stood trial.

The entry, therefore, must be:

Judgment of conviction of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor affirmed.

Judgment of conviction of failing to stop upon the signal of a uniformed law enforcement officer vacated.

Remanded for entry of judgment of acquittal of eluding a law enforcement officer in a high speed chase after being sig-nalled to stop.

All concurring.

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