State of Louisiana Versus Ryan Christopher Hunter ( 2023 )

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 22-KA-498
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
RYAN CHRISTOPHER HUNTER COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 21-4356, DIVISION "G"
HONORABLE E. ADRIAN ADAMS, JUDGE PRESIDING
April 26, 2023
MARC E. JOHNSON
JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy,
Marc E. Johnson, and Robert A. Chaisson
AFFIRMED
MEJ
SMC
RAC
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE,
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr.
Thomas J. Butler
Anne M. Wallis
Zachary L. Grate
Stephen Downer
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT,
RYAN CHRISTOPHER HUNTER
Prentice L. White
JOHNSON, J.
Defendant, Ryan Christopher Hunter, timely appeals his adjudication as a
double felony offender. For the following reasons, we affirm his conviction and
subsequent habitual offender adjudication and sentence.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In April of 2021, Louisiana State Trooper Nicholas Dowdle detected a white
Chevy Malibu traveling more than 20 miles over the posted speed limit while
working a speed enforcement detail. Trooper Dowdle activated his lights and
initiated a traffic stop. Defendant, Ryan Christopher Hunter, was driving the
vehicle. Defendant opened the center console of the vehicle attempting to locate
his state identification card, and Trooper Dowdle noticed a loaded gun magazine in
the center console.1 Trooper Dowdle ordered Defendant out of the vehicle and then
secured Defendant in the back seat of his police cruiser. Trooper Dowdle then
searched the vehicle and found two loaded gun magazines, a firearm, plastic
baggies with teal and green colored pills - methamphetamine, a digital scale, and a
plastic bowl containing green vegetable matter – 83 grams of marijuana plus a
“marijuana butt.” Defendant also had approximately $1,800 in cash in his pocket.
Defendant denied having any knowledge of the firearm, pills, or the loaded gun
magazines. Trooper Dowdle ran Defendant’s information through his computer
system and discovered that Defendant had a 2018 conviction for aggravated
battery, and that his probation ended April 2020. The trooper then arrested
Defendant.
Defendant was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,
possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance,
and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana less than 2.5 pounds in
1
Defendant advised Trooper Dowdle that he did not have a driver’s license.
22-KA-498 1
violation of La. R.S. 14:95.1, 14:95(E), and 40:966(A), respectively. Defendant
pled not guilty to the felony offenses.
At trial, which took place on April 19-20, 2022, Defendant testified as
follows: The firearm and loaded gun magazines belonged to the friend who loaned
him the vehicle. However, he denied knowing who the pills belonged to and also
denied that he was speeding at the time that he was pulled over. Defendant insisted
that he was travelling at 53 miles per hour and the radar was wrong. On the stand,
he again admitted that the marijuana and the digital scale belonged to him. He and
his then pregnant fiancée were headed to Laplace to attend a three-day event with
three other couples. The marijuana was for Defendant and his ex-fiancée’s
personal use and he did not intend to sell any of the marijuana. That same day, a
twelve-person jury returned a unanimous verdict as to Count 3 – possession of
marijuana weighing less than 2.5 pounds with the intent to distribute.2 On May 12,
2022, Defendant was sentenced to eight years at hard labor with credit for time
served.
Also on May 12, 2022, the State filed a habitual offender bill of information
against Defendant, alleging he is a second-felony offender because of his 2018
conviction for aggravated battery. Defendant entered a guilty plea to the habitual
offender bill after acknowledging and waiving his constitutional rights. He also
consented to a sentencing range of three and a third to twenty years as a second-
felony offender. The district court informed Defendant that the State offered him
an eight-year sentence in exchange for his guilty plea. The court found that
Defendant’s waiver of his rights was not knowing and intelligent and docketed a
habitual offender bill hearing on May 17, 2022, which was continued until May 26,
2022. At the hearing, Defendant stipulated to being the same Ryan Hunter who
2
The jury could not reach a valid verdict for Count 1- possession of a firearm while in possession of a
controlled dangerous substance and Count 2 - possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
22-KA-498 2
was convicted of aggravated battery in 2018. After the district court advised
Defendant of his “Boykin”3 rights, and Defendant verified that he understood that
the sentencing range for his crimes was three and one third to twenty years, and
that he would receive eight years, without the benefit of probation, or suspension
of sentence, the district court accepted Defendant’s guilty plea. The court then
vacated his original sentence, re-sentenced him as a second-felony offender under
La. R.S. 15:529.1 to eight years imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of
probation or suspension of sentence pursuant to the plea agreement, and remanded
him to the custody of the Department of Corrections, with credit for time served.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Defendant argues that the district court abused its discretion when it
sentenced him to eight years without the assistance of a pre-sentencing report. He
argues that the court should have obtained a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) report
to determine an appropriate sentence. Defendant points out that a sentence within
statutory limits can be reviewed for constitutional excessiveness. Defendant also
claims that the district court did not indicate that it considered the sentencing
factors listed in La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1.
The State asserts that Defendant cannot appeal a sentence imposed in
conformity with a habitual offender stipulation. Nevertheless, the State argues that
Defendant did not object to the sentence, did not file a motion to reconsider
sentence, and did not allege any mitigating factors. The State avers that the district
court is not required to order a PSI and that Defendant did not object to the lack of
a PSI. It also opines that the record contains an adequate factual basis for the
sentence and that the court need not comply with La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1 when the
sentence is based on a plea agreement. The State contends that the sentence is not
excessive.
3
Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969).
22-KA-498 3
LAW AND DISCUSSION
A trial judge has broad discretion when imposing a sentence, and a
reviewing court may not set a sentence aside absent a manifest abuse of discretion.
The issue on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion, not whether
another sentence might have been more appropriate. State v. McKinney, 19-380
(La. App. 5 Cir. 12/26/19), 289 So.3d 153, 166-67.
After review, we find that Defendant is not entitled to relief. Under La.
C.Cr.P. art. 881.2(A)(2), a defendant “cannot appeal or seek review of a sentence
imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was set forth in the record at
the time of the plea.” This Court has consistently recognized that La. C.Cr.P. art.
881.2(A)(2) precludes a defendant from seeking review of an enhanced sentence to
which the defendant agreed prior to pleading guilty. State v. Lloyd, 21-645 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 8/24/22), 348 So.3d 222, 237, writ denied, 22-1354 (La. 11/22/22), 350
So.3d 499.
The record reflects that Defendant agreed to stipulate to his status as a
second-felony offender in exchange for the eight-year sentence he received. The
waiver of rights guilty plea form executed by Defendant indicates that he
understood that he would receive an eight-year sentence in exchange for admitting
his status as a second-felony offender. During the plea colloquy, the district court
judge advised Defendant that if he accepted the guilty plea, he would be sentenced
to “eight years, without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.” Defendant
indicated he understood this and the court sentenced him to eight years without the
benefit of probation or suspension of sentence, pursuant to the plea agreement.
Further, a pre-sentence investigation is an aid to the trial court and is not a
right of a defendant. State v. Gatson, 21-156 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/29/21), 334 So.3d
1021, 1040-41. La. C.Cr.P. art. 875 provides that it is discretionary with the trial
court whether a pre-sentence investigation is ordered prior to sentencing. Id.; State
22-KA-498 4
v. Sanborn, 02-257 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/16/02), 831 So.2d 320, 331, writ denied,
02-3130 (La. 9/26/03), 854 So.2d 346. Further, compliance with sentencing
guidelines pursuant to La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1 is not required when the sentence
imposed is statutorily prescribed under the Habitual Offender Law. State v.
Howard, 10-541 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/26/11), 64 So.3d 377, 385, writ denied, 11-
1073 (La. 12/2/11), 76 So.3d 1173. Moreover, the district court is not required to
comply with La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1 when a defendant pleads guilty and agrees to
the sentence imposed, as occurred in this case. See State v. Nelson, 17-191 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 11/29/17), 232 So.3d 1274, 1283, citing State v. Dickerson, 11-236
(La. App. 5 Cir. 11/15/11), 80 So.3d 510, 521.
If, as in the instant case, Defendant made no objection to the sentence
imposed and did not file a motion for reconsideration, then the sentence is only
reviewable on appeal for constitutional excessiveness. See State v. Anderson, 01-
789 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1/15/02), 807 So.2d 956, 961, writ denied, 02-569 (La.
1/24/03), 836 So.2d 42 citing State v. Mims, 619 So.2d 1059, 1059-60 (La. 1993).
Even if he had not agreed to a plea agreement, Defendant failed to properly
preserve this issue for review. Further, the enhanced sentence the district court
imposed is more than four years less than the midpoint of the range – 12.5 years.
If we were to review Defendant's sentences, we could not conclude that the district
court abused its wide discretion in this instance, as the sentence falls within the
ranges set forth in the statutes. See Nelson, supra, at 1282; La. R.S. 40:966(A); La.
R.S. 15:529.1. Defendant’s assignment of error is without merit.
ERRORS PATENT
The record was reviewed for errors patent, according to La. C.Cr.P. art. 920;
State v. Oliveaux, 312 So.2d 337 (La. 1975); and State v. Weiland, 556 So.2d 175(La. App. 5th Cir. 1990). There are no errors that require corrective action.
DECREE
22-KA-498 5
Considering the foregoing, Defendant’s underlying conviction, habitual
offender adjudication, and enhanced sentence are affirmed.
AFFIRMED
22-KA-498 6
SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
CORNELIUS E. REGAN, PRO TEM FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
APRIL 26, 2023 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT
REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
22-KA-498
E-NOTIFIED
24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
HONORABLE E. ADRIAN ADAMS (DISTRICT JUDGE)
ANNE M. WALLIS (APPELLEE) THOMAS J. BUTLER (APPELLEE) PRENTICE L. WHITE (APPELLANT)
MAILED
HONORABLE PAUL D. CONNICK, JR.
(APPELLEE)
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
STEPHEN DOWNER (APPELLEE)
ZACHARY L. GRATE (APPELLEE)
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
200 DERBIGNY STREET
GRETNA, LA 70053