Kenneth Linwood Awkard v. Commonwealth

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Before: Chief Judge Moon, Judges Baker, Benton, Coleman,

Koontz, * Willis, Elder, Bray and Fitzpatrick Argued at Richmond, Virginia KENNETH LINWOOD AWKARD v. Record No. 2267-93-2 OPINION

BY JUDGE JOSEPH E. BAKER COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA SEPTEMBER 5, 1995

UPON A REHEARING EN BANC

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY

Paul M. Peatross, Jr., Judge

Francis McQ. Lawrence (Ronald M. Huber; St. John, Bowling & Lawrence, on brief), for appellant. Leah A. Darron, Assistant Attorney General (James S. Gilmore, III, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

By opinion dated February 14, 1995, 1 a panel of this Court reversed Kenneth Linwood Awkard's (appellant) felony sentence imposed upon him by the Circuit Court of Albemarle County (trial court) and remanded the case to the trial court for a re-sentencing pursuant to the misdemeanor provisions of Code § 46.2-357, as amended. This Code section became effective after appellant was convicted but prior to the date of his sentencing hearing. The facts as stated in the panel majority and dissent are complete and need not be restated here.

Upon rehearing en banc, we hold that whether the felony or misdemeanor punishment should have been imposed in this case was a matter committed to the discretionary power of the trial court. Because the sentence given was within the statutory limits prescribed by Code § 46.2-357, to which appellant pled guilty, we find no abuse of discretion.

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Affirmed. Fitzpatrick, J., with whom Benton, Koontz and Elder, J.J., join, dissenting.

I would reverse appellant's felony conviction and remand for re-sentencing for the reasons stated in the majority opinion of the panel decision. See Awkard v. Commonwealth, 19 Va. App. 605, 454 S.E.2d 18 (1995).