Andrew Graham, Jr. v. State of Mississippi , 2016 Miss. App. LEXIS 113 ( 2016 )


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  •         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
    NO. 2014-KA-01783-COA
    ANDREW GRAHAM, JR. A/K/A ANDREW                                         APPELLANT
    GRAHAM
    v.
    STATE OF MISSISSIPPI                                                      APPELLEE
    DATE OF JUDGMENT:                        11/03/2014
    TRIAL JUDGE:                             HON. MICHAEL M. TAYLOR
    COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:               LINCOLN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:                 OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
    BY: GEORGE T. HOLMES
    JUSTIN TAYLOR COOK
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                   OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
    BY: BARBARA WAKELAND BYRD
    DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                       DEE BATES
    NATURE OF THE CASE:                      CRIMINAL - FELONY
    TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:                 CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY AND
    SENTENCED, AS A HABITUAL
    OFFENDER, TO FIVE YEARS IN THE
    CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND
    ORDERED TO PAY A $2,000 FINE
    DISPOSITION:                             AFFIRMED - 03/01/2016
    MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
    MANDATE ISSUED:
    BEFORE IRVING, P.J., CARLTON AND JAMES, JJ.
    CARLTON, J., FOR THE COURT:
    ¶1.   A Lincoln County jury found Andrew Graham guilty of conspiracy to possess a
    controlled substance inside a correctional facility. See 
    Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-198
     (Rev.
    2011); 
    Miss. Code Ann. § 97-1-1
     (Rev. 2006). The Lincoln County Circuit Court sentenced
    Graham, as a habitual offender, to five years in the custody of the Mississippi Department
    of Corrections (MDOC) and fined Graham $2,000. Graham appeals his conviction to this
    Court and raises the following issues: (1) whether his indictment was defective; (2) whether
    the evidence was legally sufficient to support his conviction; and (3) whether he was illegally
    sentenced as a habitual offender. Finding no error, we affirm.
    FACTS
    ¶2.    A grand jury indicted Graham with the following charges in a two-count indictment:
    Count I, bringing marijuana, a controlled substance, into a correctional facility; and Count
    II, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance inside a correctional facility. Prior to trial,
    the State moved to amend Graham’s indictment to reflect his habitual-offender status under
    Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-19-81 (Rev. 2007). During the pretrial hearing on
    its motion, the State offered into evidence certified copies of sentencing orders related to
    Graham’s prior felony convictions to prove the predicate offenses to establish Graham’s
    habitual-offender status. The circuit court took judicial notice of the certified copies of
    Graham’s prior sentencing orders and admitted the orders into evidence. As the record
    reflects, the sentencing orders reflected that Graham possessed the following felony
    convictions: (1) burglary of an automobile and conspiracy in cause number 01-248-MS, with
    a sentence of three years in MDOC’s custody; and (2) possession of a firearm by a convicted
    felon in cause number 05-104-LT, with a sentence of three years in MDOC’s custody.
    ¶3.    The record reflects that Graham raised no objection to the State’s motion to amend
    2
    his indictment to charge habitual-offender status under section 99-19-81. In addition,
    Graham failed to object to the validity or sufficiency of the State’s evidence as to Graham’s
    prior felony convictions that the circuit court admitted into evidence. After reviewing the
    State’s evidence, the circuit court granted the State’s motion to amend Graham’s indictment
    to reflect his prior felony convictions and his habitual-offender status.
    ¶4.    At Graham’s trial, Officer Teresa Lawrence testified that she was on duty at the
    Lincoln County Jail on the evening of February 24, 2012. While the inmates spent time in
    the jail yard, Officer Lawrence monitored their activity from the control room. As she
    watched the monitors showing video from the yard’s cameras, Officer Lawrence noticed
    some suspicious activity. Officer Lawrence testified that two doors opened onto the yard.
    The first door allowed inmates and jail personnel to access the yard from inside the jail. The
    second door was located in one of the yard’s exterior walls. Officer Lawrence testified that
    this exterior door allowed access beyond the jail in case of an emergency. Officer Lawrence
    testified that she noticed Graham and another inmate standing by the yard’s exterior door.
    As she watched the jail’s video monitor, Officer Lawrence stated that she saw Graham and
    the other inmate bend down by the exterior door and “get stuff out from under the door.”
    Based on the activity she observed, Officer Lawrence alerted Officers Larry Morris and
    Donald James.
    ¶5.    After Officer Lawrence contacted them, Officer Morris and Officer James conducted
    a search of each inmate as he reentered the jail. Officer James testified that there were about
    3
    six or seven inmates to search. Terrance Hudson was the third inmate the officers searched.
    Officer James testified that he discovered three envelopes concealed on Hudson.
    ¶6.    After searching Hudson, the officers searched Graham, who was the next inmate to
    reenter the jail. According to Officer Morris’s testimony, Graham had complained of feeling
    cold before he went outside. As a result, the officers allowed Graham to take a blanket with
    him to the yard. As Graham attempted to reenter the jail behind Hudson, Officer Morris
    noticed that Graham’s blanket looked bulky. Both officers testified that Graham attempted
    to pass the blanket over Officer James’s head to Hudson. Officer James also testified that
    Graham made a statement to the effect that Officer James should “let him [(Graham)] go,
    don’t worry about [the blanket.]”
    ¶7.    Despite Graham’s attempts to pass the blanket to Hudson, the officers intercepted the
    blanket before Graham could complete the transfer. After completing their searches of the
    remaining inmates, Officer Morris and Officer James took the confiscated items to the jail’s
    control room. In addition to the envelopes in Hudson’s possession, the officers discovered
    a yellow bag inside Graham’s blanket that contained additional envelopes. Officer James
    testified that the envelopes concealed in Graham’s blanket contained tobacco and what
    appeared to be marijuana. Later in the State’s case-in-chief, the jury heard testimony that
    tests performed by the Mississippi Crime Laboratory confirmed the green leafy substance
    found in the envelopes was marijuana.
    ¶8.    The jury also heard testimony from Chief Deputy Johnny Hall Jr. Chief Deputy Hall
    4
    testified that he received a phone call the evening of February 24, 2012, informing him that
    someone had tried to sneak contraband into the jail. After receiving the phone call, Chief
    Deputy Hall went to the jail and viewed the surveillance video. Consistent with other
    testimony presented by the State, Chief Deputy Hall testified that the video showed Graham,
    who had a blanket wrapped around him, and Hudson standing near the jail yard’s exterior
    door. Chief Deputy Hall further testified that, upon inspecting the exterior jail-yard door, he
    observed a small crack in the door near the locking mechanism. According to Chief Deputy
    Hall’s testimony, the crack was large enough to slide something through the opening.
    ¶9.    After hearing the evidence and testimony, the jury failed to reach a verdict on Count
    I of Graham’s indictment for bringing marijuana, a controlled substance, into a correctional
    facility. However, the jury found Graham guilty of Count II for conspiracy to possess a
    controlled substance inside a correctional facility. On appeal, Graham attacks the sufficiency
    of his indictment as to Count II, and he attacks the sufficiency of the jury’s verdict finding
    him guilty of Count II charged in the indictment.
    ¶10.   During Graham’s sentencing hearing, the State sought to have Graham sentenced as
    a habitual offender. The circuit court referenced its pretrial ruling, which ordered Graham’s
    indictment to be amended to reflect his prior felony convictions and his habitual-offender
    status. After referencing its previous ruling, the circuit court sentenced Graham, as a habitual
    offender, to five years in MDOC’s custody and fined Graham $2,000.
    ¶11.   On appeal, Graham argues that the circuit court illegally sentenced him as a habitual
    5
    offender. As stated, however, the record reflects that Graham raised no objection to his
    enhanced sentence during the sentencing hearing. In addition, Graham’s posttrial motion for
    a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or, in the alternative, a new trial failed to
    raise the issue. Instead Graham asserted the following assignments of error in his posttrial
    motion: (1) the verdict was contrary to the evidence; (2) the verdict was against the weight
    of the evidence; and (3) the circuit court erred by “altering the jury panel in the manner in
    which the panel was altered prior to trial.”
    ¶12.   Aggrieved by the circuit court’s denial of his posttrial motion, Graham now appeals
    to this Court.
    DISCUSSION
    I.        Whether Graham’s indictment was defective.
    ¶13.   Graham asserts his indictment was fatally defective for failure to specify the
    contraband that he conspired to possess in the correctional facility. “Whether an indictment
    is fatally defective is a question of law, which this Court reviews de novo.” Jones v. State,
    
    130 So. 3d 519
    , 524 (¶13) (Miss. Ct. App. 2013) (citing Moten v. State, 
    20 So. 3d 757
    , 759
    (¶4) (Miss. Ct. App. 2009)).
    ¶14.   The record reflects that Graham failed to raise this argument before the circuit court.
    “Generally, a trial judge will not be found in error on a matter not presented to him for
    decision. It is only in cases where the indictment does not charge an offense that defects in
    an indictment may be challenged on appeal for the first time.” 
    Id.
     at (¶14) (internal citations
    6
    and quotation marks omitted). During the trial court proceedings, Graham failed to preserve
    any objection to the sufficiency of his indictment.       Therefore, absent a showing of
    jurisdictional error or actual prejudice, he waived complaints as to sufficiency. See Brooks
    v. State, 
    573 So. 2d 1350
    , 1353-54 (Miss. 1990); Perkins v. State, 
    487 So. 2d 791
    , 792 (Miss.
    1986); Jones v. State, 
    356 So. 2d 1182
    , 1184 (Miss. 1978).1
    ¶15.   As our caselaw establishes:
    The purpose of an indictment is to give the defendant reasonable notice
    of the charges against him in order that he may prepare an adequate defense.
    Brawner v. State, 
    947 So. 2d 254
    , 265 (¶31) (Miss. 2006) (citing Brown v.
    State, 
    890 So. 2d 901
    , 918 (¶61) (Miss. 2004)). Indictments must contain “a
    plain, concise[,] and definite written statement of the essential facts
    constituting the offense charged and shall fully notify the defendant of the
    nature and cause of the accusation.” URCCC 7.06. The ultimate test for the
    validity of an indictment is whether the defendant was prejudiced in preparing
    his defense. Medina v. State, 
    688 So. 2d 727
    , 730 (Miss. 1996).
    Jones, 
    130 So. 3d at 524
     (¶13).
    ¶16.   The record reflects that Graham’s indictment included the essential statutory elements
    of the charges against Graham, and the indictment provided Graham with reasonable notice
    of the charges so that he could prepare an adequate defense. See id.2 The record also reflects
    1
    Cf. 
    Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21
    (1) (Rev. 2015) (“Failure by a prisoner to raise
    objections, defenses, claims, questions, issues[,] or errors either in fact or law which were
    capable of determination at trial and/or on direct appeal, regardless of whether such are
    based on the laws and the Constitution of the state of Mississippi or of the United States,
    shall constitute a waiver thereof and shall be procedurally barred, but the court may upon
    a showing of cause and actual prejudice grant relief from the waiver.”).
    2
    See also Davis v. State, 
    171 So. 3d 537
    , 540 (¶11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015) (stating
    that the objective of an indictment is to provide the defendant with fair notice of the crime
    charged); Shorter v. State, 
    946 So. 2d 815
    , 818 (¶¶9-11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2007) (discussing
    7
    that the indictment tracked the language of the charging statute. Count I of Graham’s
    indictment charged that Graham “did wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously[,] and knowingly
    bring [m]arihuana, a controlled substance, into the Lincoln County Jail, a correctional
    facility[.]” Count II of Graham’s indictment further charged the following:
    Graham and Terrance D. Hudson did wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously[,] and
    knowingly conspire and agree, each with the other, and/or with some other
    person or persons to the grand jurors unknown, to commit the crime of
    possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility . . . ; all of
    said conduct alleged and set forth in counts one and two of this indictment
    having then and there been based on two or more acts or transactions
    connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan[.]
    ¶17.   Graham argues that his indictment failed to provide him with any notice of the
    controlled substance he allegedly conspired to possess in the correctional facility. Graham
    further contends it is “inconsequential” that Count I of his indictment charged him with
    unlawfully bringing marijuana into a correctional facility. According to Graham’s argument,
    Count I is an entirely separate charge from Count II, and therefore, Count II’s failure to
    specify the controlled substance that he was charged with conspiring to possess renders his
    indictment defective as to that charge.
    ¶18.   To support his argument that his indictment is defective, Graham cites this Court’s
    recent opinion in Warren v. State, 2013-KA-00926-COA, 
    2015 WL 326660
     (Miss. Ct. App.
    Jan. 27, 2015). In Warren, the indictment charged the defendant with possession of a
    controlled substance in a correctional facility in violation of section 47-5-198. Warren, 2015
    the essential elements of the defendant’s indictment).
    
    8 WL 326660
    , at *1 (¶1). On appeal, Warren argued her indictment was defective for failure
    to identify the controlled substance she was alleged to have possessed. 
    Id. at *2
     (¶7).
    Agreeing with Warren’s argument, this Court reversed the circuit court’s judgment and
    remanded the case. 
    Id. at *3
     (¶13).
    ¶19.   Despite Graham’s assertions on appeal, we find Warren distinguishable from the
    present facts. Unlike in Warren, where the indictment contained only one charge that
    entirely failed to specify the nature of the controlled substance at issue, Count I of Graham’s
    indictment provided notice that marijuana constituted the controlled substance that Graham
    was charged with unlawfully possessing. Furthermore, Count II of Graham’s indictment
    clearly acknowledged that “all [the] conduct alleged and set forth in counts one and two of
    [the] indictment [were] based on two or more acts or transactions connected together or
    constituting parts of a common scheme or plan[.]”
    ¶20.   Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-7-2(1) (Rev. 2015) and Uniform Rule of
    Circuit and County Court 7.07(A) allow multiple-count indictments when the offenses are
    based upon the same act or transaction or when the offenses are based upon two or more acts
    or transactions that are connected or constitute parts of a common scheme or plan.
    Additionally, a defendant is procedurally barred from arguing an objection to a multi-count
    indictment on appeal where the defendant failed to raise the objection at trial. See Patrick
    v. State, 
    754 So. 2d 1194
    , 1195-96 (¶7) (Miss. 2000); Thomas v. State, 
    14 So. 3d 812
    , 816
    (¶6) (Miss. Ct. App. 2009). The record reflects that Graham’s indictment included all the
    9
    essential statutory elements of the charges against him and provided him with sufficient
    notice of the charges so that he suffered no prejudice in preparing his defense. See Jones,
    
    130 So. 3d at 524
     (¶13). Accordingly, we find that Graham’s failure to raise this argument
    before the circuit court procedurally bars the issue on appeal.
    II.    Whether the evidence was legally sufficient to support Graham’s
    conviction.
    ¶21.   In his next assignment of error, Graham asserts that the State’s case as to the
    conspiracy charge was based completely on circumstantial evidence and speculation.
    Furthermore, Graham alleges that the State failed to show a “union of the minds” between
    himself and Hudson. Based on these arguments, Graham contends that the State failed to
    present sufficient evidence to convict him of conspiracy.
    ¶22.   When addressing an argument regarding the legal sufficiency of the evidence, this
    Court applies the following standard of review:
    [T]he critical inquiry is whether the evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt
    that the accused committed the act charged, and that he did so under such
    circumstances that every element of the offense existed. If, viewing the
    evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could
    have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the essential elements of the crime
    existed, this Court will affirm the conviction. The jury determines the
    credibility of witnesses and resolves conflicts in the evidence.
    Barron v. State, 
    130 So. 3d 531
    , 536 (¶13) (Miss. Ct. App. 2013) (internal citations and
    quotation marks omitted).
    ¶23.   In discussing the crime of conspiracy, our caselaw has previously stated:
    A conspiracy occurs when two or more persons conspire to commit a
    10
    crime. 
    Miss. Code Ann. § 97-1-1
    (a) (Rev. 2006). . . . The supreme court has
    stated that:
    For there to be a conspiracy, “there must be recognition on the
    part of the conspirators that they are entering into a common
    plan and knowingly intend to further its common purpose.” The
    conspiracy agreement need not be formal or express, but may be
    inferred from the circumstances, particularly by declarations,
    acts, and conduct of the alleged conspirators. Furthermore, the
    existence of a conspiracy, and a defendant’s membership in it,
    may be proved entirely by circumstantial evidence.
    Williams v. State, 
    984 So. 2d 989
    , 991-92 (¶14) (Miss. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting Franklin v.
    State, 
    676 So. 2d 287
    , 288 (Miss. 1996)).
    ¶24.   Upon review, we find the State presented sufficient evidence for a jury to determine
    that Graham entered into a common plan to possess a controlled substance inside a
    correctional facility. The testimony reflected that, on the evening of February 24, 2012,
    officers allowed Graham to take a blanket with him to the jail yard because he complained
    that he felt cold. Further testimony revealed that, as Officer Lawrence monitored the
    inmates’ activity in the yard, she noticed suspicious behavior. Officer Lawrence testified that
    she observed Graham and another inmate stand by the yard’s exterior door, bend down, and
    retrieve items from underneath the door. Chief Deputy Hall, who inspected the door after
    the incident, found a small opening that could allow someone to slip an item through the door
    near the locking mechanism.
    ¶25.   After observing the two inmates’ suspicious behavior, Officer Lawrence alerted
    Officer Morris and Officer James, who conducted a search of each inmate as he reentered
    11
    the jail. The officers discovered three envelopes concealed on Hudson’s person. Graham,
    who was the next inmate in line, attempted to pass his blanket to Hudson before the officers
    searched him. Officer James testified that Graham even stated that Officer James should just
    allow Graham to pass the blanket to Hudson. The officers refused to allow the exchange,
    however, and they confiscated Graham’s blanket.
    ¶26.   Upon examining the blanket in Graham’s possession, the officers discovered a yellow
    bag. Inside the yellow bag, the officers discovered more envelopes. When the officers
    inspected the envelopes concealed on Hudson’s person and inside Graham’s blanket, they
    found tobacco and a green leafy substance that looked like marijuana. Tests performed by
    the Mississippi Crime Laboratory later confirmed that the green leafy substance in the
    envelopes was, in fact, marijuana. Besides the testimony about the events of February 24,
    2012, the State offered into evidence the contraband discovered during the search of Hudson
    and Graham. In addition, the jury viewed the surveillance video the jail’s cameras captured
    of the incident.
    ¶27.   As previously stated, “the existence of a conspiracy, and a defendant’s membership
    in it, may be proved entirely by circumstantial evidence.” Williams, 984 So. 2d at 991-92
    (¶14) (quoting Franklin, 676 So. 2d at 288). Viewing the evidence in the record in the light
    most favorable to the State, we find that a rational juror could have found Graham guilty of
    conspiracy to possess a controlled substance inside a correctional facility. See Barron, 
    130 So. 3d at 536
     (¶13). As a result, we find that this argument lacks merit.
    12
    III.   Whether Graham was illegally sentenced as a habitual offender.
    ¶28.   In his final assignment of error, Graham challenges his sentence as a habitual
    offender. Graham asserts no argument that he lacked notice of the State’s intent to seek an
    enhanced sentence under section 99-19-81. Moreover, Graham raises no attack on the
    validity of his amended indictment or the prior felony convictions supporting his habitual-
    offender status. Instead, Graham argues the State presented insufficient evidence during his
    sentencing hearing to prove his habitual-offender status. Based on this argument, Graham
    asserts that the circuit court erred by sentencing him as a habitual offender.
    ¶29.   As the record reflects, Graham raised no objection during the pretrial hearing to the
    State’s motion to amend his indictment to reflect his prior felony convictions and his
    habitual-offender status. In addition, during his sentencing hearing, Graham failed to object
    to his sentence as a habitual offender. Graham again failed to attack his sentence in his
    motion for a JNOV or, in the alternative, a new trial. As our caselaw establishes, Graham’s
    failure to raise an argument before the circuit court challenging his sentence procedurally
    bars this issue from appellate review. See Conner v. State, 
    138 So. 3d 143
    , 150 (¶19) (Miss.
    2014); Heidelberg v. State, 
    45 So. 3d 730
    , 732 (¶6) (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). “The supreme
    court and this court have previously made clear that: ‘When an accused fails to object to the
    habitual[-]offender issue during the sentencing phase, he is procedurally barred to do so [for]
    the first time on appeal.’” Heidelberg, 
    45 So. 3d at 732
     (¶6) (quoting Sims v. State, 
    775 So. 2d 1291
    , 1294 (¶16) (Miss. Ct. App. 2000)).
    13
    ¶30.   Recognizing the procedural bar to his argument, Graham asserts that this Court should
    review the issue for plain error. “The plain-error doctrine provides for appellate review of
    obvious errors not properly raised by the defendant at trial, which affect a defendant’s
    ‘fundamental, substantive rights.’” 
    Id.
     at (¶7) (quoting Smith v. State, 
    986 So. 2d 290
    , 294
    (¶10) (Miss. 2008)). To prove plain error, Graham must show “(1) an error at the trial level
    (2) that resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice.” 
    Id.
     (citing Stephens v. State, 
    911 So. 2d 424
    , 432 (¶19) (Miss. 2005)).
    ¶31.   “A defendant has a fundamental right of freedom from an illegal sentence.” Conner,
    
    138 So. 3d at 150
     (¶19). “Before a court may sentence a defendant under section 99-19-81,
    the State must properly charge the accused as a habitual offender and ‘then prove the prior
    offenses by competent evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Heidelberg, 
    45 So. 3d at 733
    (¶9) (quoting Joiner v. State, 
    32 So. 3d 542
    , 544 (¶12) (Miss. Ct. App. 2010)). In addition,
    “[t]he accused must have ‘a reasonable opportunity to challenge the State’s proof.’” 
    Id.
    (quoting Joiner, 
    32 So. 3d at 544
     (¶12)).
    ¶32.   The record reflects that, prior to trial, the State moved to amend Graham’s indictment
    to charge him as a habitual offender under section 99-19-81. During the pretrial hearing on
    the State’s motion, the State reminded the circuit court that the court had amended Graham’s
    indictment in a previous case to charge habitual-offender status. However, Graham was later
    found not guilty of the crime charged in the previous case.
    ¶33.   At the pretrial hearing in the present case, the State supported its motion to amend
    14
    Graham’s indictment by offering certified copies of the sentencing orders related to
    Graham’s prior felony convictions. Graham raised no objection to the evidence or the State’s
    motion, and the circuit court then admitted the prior sentencing orders into evidence. The
    circuit court then granted the State’s motion to amend Graham’s indictment to reflect his
    prior felony convictions and his habitual-offender status.
    ¶34.   During sentencing, the record reflects that the circuit court referenced its pretrial
    ruling to amend Graham’s indictment to reflect his prior felony convictions and habitual-
    offender status. The circuit court then sentenced Graham, as a habitual offender, to five
    years in MDOC’s custody and fined Graham $2,000. As the record reflects, Graham raised
    no objection to his sentence as a habitual offender either during the sentencing hearing or in
    his posttrial motion for a JNOV or, in the alternative, a new trial.
    ¶35.   In Heidelberg, this Court decided a case similar to the present matter. We
    summarized the facts and issues in Heidelberg as follows:
    Before trial, the State moved to amend the indictment to charge Heidelberg as
    a habitual offender. The State provided certified copies of two sentencing
    orders documenting Heidelberg’s prior felony convictions. And the circuit
    judge ordered the indictment amended to reflect Heidelberg’s prior felony
    convictions and habitual-offender status. After the jury returned a guilty
    verdict, the State again advised the circuit judge that Heidelberg had two prior
    felony convictions. The judge then sentenced Heidelberg as a habitual
    offender to life in the custody of the [MDOC] without eligibility for parole or
    probation. On appeal, Heidelberg claims the State’s failure to offer the
    certified sentencing orders during the sentencing hearing requires reversal of
    his sentence. Because Heidelberg raises this issue for the first time on appeal,
    we find it procedurally barred. Further, since Heidelberg neither contests the
    validity or sufficiency of his prior felony convictions supporting his enhanced
    sentence nor otherwise points to any notice-based deficiencies in the amended
    15
    charging document, we affirm.
    Heidelberg, 
    45 So. 3d at 731
     (¶1).
    ¶36.   The record here reflects that, by the time of Graham’s sentencing hearing, no
    uncertainty existed as to the State’s intention to seek an enhanced penalty under section 99-
    19-81. Furthermore, our caselaw establishes that sentencing orders constitute competent
    evidence of a defendant’s prior convictions. See Heidelberg, 
    45 So. 3d at 733
     (¶14).
    Although Graham possessed sufficient notice of the State’s intent to seek an enhanced
    sentence, and although he possessed ample opportunity to challenge the State’s proof,
    Graham failed to do so. In addition, like the defendant in Heidelberg, Graham “neither
    contests the validity or sufficiency of his prior felony convictions supporting his enhanced
    sentence nor otherwise points to any notice-based deficiencies in the amended charging
    document[.]” 
    Id. at 731
     (¶1).
    ¶37.   After reviewing the facts in the record and applicable caselaw, we find that no
    manifest miscarriage of justice resulted from Graham’s sentence as a habitual offender. See
    
    id. at 732
     (¶7). As a result, we decline to review Graham’s claim of error as plain error, and
    we find no merit to Graham’s argument that the circuit court imposed an illegal sentence
    against him.
    ¶38. THE JUDGMENT OF THE LINCOLN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF
    CONVICTION OF CONSPIRACY AND SENTENCE, AS A HABITUAL
    OFFENDER, OF FIVE YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND TO PAY A FINE OF $2,000 IS
    AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO LINCOLN
    COUNTY.
    16
    LEE, C.J., GRIFFIS, P.J., BARNES, ISHEE, JAMES AND WILSON, JJ.,
    CONCUR. IRVING, P.J., AND FAIR, J., CONCUR IN PART AND IN THE RESULT
    WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. GREENLEE, J., NOT
    PARTICIPATING.
    17