State v. Jedlicka , 305 Neb. 52 ( 2020 )

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
03/27/2020 08:08 AM CDT
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
305 Nebraska Reports
STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
State of Nebraska, appellant, v.
Parris R. Jedlicka, appellee.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed February 14, 2020. No. S-19-268.
1. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation presents a ques-
tion of law which an appellate court reviews independently of the
lower court.
2. Judgments: Pleadings: Plea in Abatement: Appeal and Error.
Regarding questions of law presented by a motion to quash or plea in
abatement, an appellate court is obligated to reach a conclusion indepen-
dent of the determinations reached by the trial court.
3. Statutes: Legislature: Intent. The fundamental objective of statutory
interpretation is to ascertain and carry out the Legislature’s intent.
4. Criminal Law: Statutes: Legislature: Intent. In reading a penal stat-
ute, a court must determine and give effect to the purpose and intent of
the Legislature as ascertained from the entire language of the statute
considered in its plain, ordinary, and popular sense.
5. Statutes: Appeal and Error. When construing a statute, an appellate
court looks to the statute’s purpose and gives to the statute a reasonable
construction that best achieves that purpose, rather than a construction
that would defeat it.
6. Statutes. All statutes in pari materia must be taken together and con-
strued as if they were one law.
7. Statutes: Legislature: Intent. In construing a statute, the legislative
intention is to be determined from a general consideration of the whole
act with reference to the subject matter to which it applies and the
particular topic under which the language in question is found, and the
intent as deduced from the whole will prevail over that of a particular
part considered separately.
8. Statutes: Legislature. A definition limited by the Legislature to a par-
ticular statute or group of statutes controls only as so specified.
9. Statutes: Words and Phrases. The phrase “associated with” must be
interpreted within the context of the statute in which it appears.
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
10. Probation and Parole: Prosecuting Attorneys. Selection of allegations
of probation violations to be asserted is a prosecutorial and not a judi-
cial function.
11. Statutes: Words and Phrases. Traditionally, the word “include” in a
statute connotes that the provided list of components is not exhaus-
tive and that there are other items includable though not specifically
enumerated.
12. ____: ____. Statutory words are often known by the company they keep.
13. ____: ____. Words grouped in a list within a statute should be given
related meaning.
14. ____: ____. It is not for the courts to supply missing words or sentences
to a statute to supply that which is not there.
15. Double Jeopardy. Application of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2316 (Reissue
2016) by its terms turns on whether the defendant has been placed in
jeopardy in the trial court, not by whether the Double Jeopardy Clause
bars further action.
16. Double Jeopardy: Juries: Evidence: Pleas. In Nebraska, jeopardy
attaches (1) in a case tried to a jury, when the jury is impaneled and
sworn; (2) when a judge, hearing a case without a jury, begins to hear
evidence as to the guilt of the defendant; or (3) at the time the trial court
accepts the defendant’s guilty plea.
Appeal from the District Court for Madison County: James
G. Kube, Judge. Exception sustained, and cause remanded for
further proceedings.
Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, James D. Smith,
Solicitor General, and Matthew J. Kiernan, Deputy Madison
County Attorney, for appellant.
Jack W. Lafleur, of Moyer & Moyer, for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Cassel, J.
INTRODUCTION
The issue in this error proceeding1 is whether a proba-
tion violation allegation asserting a law violation from a
1
See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2315.01 (Cum. Supp. 2018).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
new charge of possession of methamphetamine constitutes
a “substance abuse . . . violation”2 having a prerequisite of
90 days of cumulative custodial sanctions. The district court
determined it does and sustained Parris R. Jedlicka’s motion
to quash an information for revocation of probation. Because
we conclude that this allegation of a law violation is not a
“substance abuse” violation for revocation of probation pur-
poses, we sustain the exception and remand the cause for
further proceedings.
BACKGROUND
In February 2018, the district court for Madison County
sentenced Jedlicka for possession of methamphetamine with
intent to deliver, a Class II felony. According to comments
by the prosecutor at sentencing, the plea agreement required
the State to recommend probation “as long as there’s no new
charges filed.” The State did so, and the court imposed a sen-
tence of Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision probation
for 2 years.
Two of the conditions of probation are significant. The first
condition set forth in the order of probation was to “[n]ot vio-
late any laws, refrain from disorderly conduct or acts injurious
to others.” The ninth condition required Jedlicka to, among
other things, “not use or possess any controlled substance,
except by prescription, and voluntarily submit to a chemi-
cal test . . . upon request of the probation officer, or any law
enforcement officer, to determine the use of alcoholic liquor
or drugs.”
Eight months after the sentencing, Jedlicka’s probation
officer and the chief probation officer filed with the court
a document titled “Alleged Probation Violation.” It alleged
that Jedlicka was recently arrested and charged with pos-
session of a controlled substance and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
2
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2267(3) (Reissue 2016).
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305 Nebraska Reports
STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
The State promptly filed an information for revocation of
probation. It alleged that Jedlicka had violated the first condi-
tion of the court’s probation order—the condition that prohib-
ited the violation of any laws. Specifically, the State alleged
that “on or about the 9th day of October, 2018, in Platte
County, Nebraska, [Jedlicka] did knowingly or intentionally
possess a controlled substance, other than marijuana, to wit:
Methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance.” The
State did not allege a violation of the ninth condition of
probation.
Jedlicka moved to quash the information for revocation of
probation. She claimed that under § 29-2267(3), revocation
proceedings could not be instituted for a substance abuse vio-
lation, because the State did not allege or show that she had
served 90 days of cumulative custodial sanctions during the
probation term.
The court sustained Jedlicka’s motion to quash. It framed
the issue as whether Jedlicka’s possession of methamphet-
amine constituted a substance abuse violation. The court
observed that a positive urinalysis for the illegal use of
drugs was a substance abuse violation under Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 29-2266(5) (Reissue 2016), that one cannot use and test
positive for illegal drugs without possessing the same, and
that persons on probation for a felony conviction can be sub-
ject to revocation proceedings for a substance abuse violation
only after serving 90 days of custodial sanctions.3 The court
reasoned
it would lead to a nonsensical result, to conclude that
possession of a controlled substance is not a substance
abuse violation, but that the actual ingestion into the
body of a controlled substance, as specifically noted in
the statute, is. On the other hand, if the defendant had
been caught delivering a controlled substance to another,
a much higher grade felony, or possessing a large quantity
3
See § 29-2267(3).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
of a controlled substance, such that an argument could
be made that the person possessed a controlled substance
with the intent to deliver, then the probationer’s actions
could be considered to be much more than a substance
abuse violation. This is especially pertinent when the
Legislature has specifically provided that a substance
abuse violation is associated with a probationer’s activi-
ties or behaviors associated with the use of chemical
substances.
Because there was no evidence that Jedlicka had served at least
90 days of custodial sanctions, the court sustained the motion
to quash the information for revocation of probation.
The State filed an application for leave to docket error pro-
ceedings under § 29-2315.01, which was granted. We thereafter
granted the State’s petition to bypass review by the Nebraska
Court of Appeals.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
The State assigns that the district court erred by sustaining
Jedlicka’s motion to quash.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law which
an appellate court reviews independently of the lower court.4
[2] Regarding questions of law presented by a motion to
quash or plea in abatement, an appellate court is obligated to
reach a conclusion independent of the determinations reached
by the trial court.5
ANALYSIS
The outcome of this appeal depends upon statutory interpre-
tation. So we begin by recalling settled principles governing
that process.
4
State v. Brye, 304 Neb. 498, 935 N.W.2d 438 (2019).
5
State v. Betancourt-Garcia, 295 Neb. 170, 887 N.W.2d 296 (2016).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
Statutory Interpretation
Principles
[3-5] The fundamental objective of statutory interpretation is
to ascertain and carry out the Legislature’s intent.6 In reading
a penal statute, a court must determine and give effect to the
purpose and intent of the Legislature as ascertained from the
entire language of the statute considered in its plain, ordinary,
and popular sense.7 When construing a statute, an appellate
court looks to the statute’s purpose and gives to the statute a
reasonable construction that best achieves that purpose, rather
than a construction that would defeat it.8
[6,7] But we do not examine statutes in isolation. All stat-
utes in pari materia must be taken together and construed as
if they were one law.9 Thus, we have said that in construing a
statute, the legislative intention is to be determined from a gen-
eral consideration of the whole act with reference to the subject
matter to which it applies and the particular topic under which
the language in question is found, and the intent as deduced
from the whole will prevail over that of a particular part con-
sidered separately.10
Particular Statutes
In granting Jedlicka’s motion to quash the alleged proba-
tion violation, the district court relied on § 29-2267(3). Under
§ 29-2267(3), “For a probationer convicted of a felony, revo-
cation proceedings may only be instituted in response to a
substance abuse or noncriminal violation if the probationer has
served ninety days of cumulative custodial sanctions during the
current probation term.” Neither party disputes that Jedlicka
6
State v. Ralios, 301 Neb. 1027, 921 N.W.2d 362 (2019).
7
Id.
8
State v. Hernandez, 283 Neb. 423, 809 N.W.2d 279 (2012).
9
Chilen v. Commercial Casualty Ins. Co., 135 Neb. 619, 283 N.W. 366
(1939).
10
See In re Application of Rozgall, 147 Neb. 260, 23 N.W.2d 85 (1946).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
had not served 90 days of custodial sanctions. And neither
party contends that the alleged violation was “noncriminal.”
Thus, the district court’s action rests on its conclusion that the
alleged violation was a “substance abuse” violation.
Jedlicka maintains that a “substance abuse” violation under
§ 29-2267(3) is specially defined by § 29-2266(5). That statute
provides:
Substance abuse violation means a probationer’s activi-
ties or behaviors associated with the use of chemical
substances or related treatment services resulting in a
violation of an original condition of probation, including:
(a) Positive breath test for the consumption of alco-
hol if the offender is required to refrain from alcohol
consumption;
(b) Positive urinalysis for the illegal use of drugs;
(c) Failure to report for alcohol testing or drug test-
ing; and
(d) Failure to appear for or complete substance abuse
or mental health treatment evaluations or inpatient or out-
patient treatment.11
Thus, Jedlicka contends that because her alleged possession
of methamphetamine in Platte County was an “activit[y] or
behavior[] associated with” the use of methamphetamine, the
alleged violation was a “substance abuse” violation. It appears
that the district court adopted this reasoning, which the State
attacks in this error proceeding.
[8] The State asserted during oral argument that by express
limitation, the definition of § 29-2266(5) does not apply to
§ 29-2267(3). As the State pointed out, § 29-2266 begins, “For
purposes of [Neb. Rev. Stat. §§] 29-2266.01 to 29-2266.03
[(Reissue 2016)] . . . .” Indisputably, § 29-2267(3) resides
outside of that range. We have often recognized that a defini-
tion limited by the Legislature to a particular statute or group
11
§ 29-2266(5).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
of statutes controls only as so specified.12 Thus, in a strict
technical sense, the State is correct that the definition of a
“[s]ubstance abuse violation” in § 29-2266(5) does not dictate
the meaning of the term “substance abuse . . . violation” in
§ 29-2267(3).
Despite this technical flaw, we are reluctant to say that the
definition has no significance whatsoever. We recognize that in
a single legislative act in 2016, §§ 29-2266 and 29-2267 were
amended and Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-2266.01 to 29-2266.03
(Reissue 2016) were added.13 Thus, they are clearly in pari
materia and must be read together. Moreover, neither the term
“substance abuse” nor the term “substance abuse violation”
appears anywhere within the specified range of §§ 29-2266.01
to 29-2266.03. It seems that the 2016 Legislature both defined
a term for a range of statutes and omitted the term from the
specified range.
We are equally reticent to apply the virtually unfettered
result which would naturally flow from Jedlicka’s interpreta-
tion. Although the district court suggested that delivery of a
controlled substance or possession of a “large quantity” would
fall outside of the language of § 29-2266(5), we see no tex-
tual basis for that limitation. And at oral argument, Jedlicka
acknowledged that an expansive interpretation was likely to be
asserted in future cases.
[9] The “[s]ubstance abuse violation” definition of
§ 29-2266(5) includes the phrase “associated with,” but our
statutes do not attribute any particular meaning to the phrase.
“‘Associated with’ must be interpreted within the context
of the statute in which it appears.”14 “Associated” means
12
See Kozal v. Nebraska Liquor Control Comm., 297 Neb. 938, 902 N.W.2d
147 (2017).
13
See 2016 Neb. Laws, L.B. 1094, §§ 19 to 23.
14
Pa. Labor Rel. v. Altoona Area School Dist., 480 Pa. 148, 155, 389 A.2d
553, 557 (1978).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
“[c]onnected in thought, mentally related” or “[c]ombined
locally, circumstantially, or in classification (with); occurring
in combination.”15 In construing a state racketeering statute,
a Hawaii court “adopt[ed] an expansive definition of the term
‘associated with.’”16 Federal courts interpreting a federal rack-
eteering statute also appear to liberally define the phrase
“associated with.”17 For example, the Fifth Circuit reasoned
that “[t]he substantive proscriptions of the . . . statute apply
to insiders and outsiders—those merely ‘associated with’ an
enterprise—who participate directly and indirectly in the enter-
prise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity.”18
It is not difficult to foresee an argument that because of the
addictive nature of a probationer’s drug use, a burglary or rob-
bery committed to support that use constituted an activity or
behavior associated with the probationer’s use. We reject such
a broad reading regarding the term “substance abuse . . . viola-
tion” in § 29-2267(3).
Application
Here, the State commenced Madison County revocation
proceedings against Jedlicka, a probationer convicted of a
felony, based upon an alleged violation of law: possession of
methamphetamine in Platte County. For multiple reasons, we
conclude that the alleged law violation was not a “substance
abuse . . . violation.”19
[10] First, the State’s allegation was based on the first
condition—to not violate any laws—and not on the ninth
15
“Associated,” Oxford English Dictionary Online, http://www.oed.com/
view/Entry/11976 (last visited Feb. 7, 2020).
16
State v. Bates, 84 Haw. 211, 224, 933 P.2d 48, 61 (1997).
17
See, generally, Reves v. Ernst & Young, 507 U.S. 170, 113 S. Ct. 1163, 122
L. Ed. 2d 525 (1993); U.S. v. Yonan, 800 F.2d 164 (7th Cir. 1986); United
States v. Elliott, 571 F.2d 880 (5th Cir. 1978).
18
United States v. Elliott, supra note 17, 571 F.2d at 903.
19
§ 29-2267(3).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
condition—to not use or possess any controlled substance.
Selection of allegations of probation violations to be asserted is
a prosecutorial and not a judicial function.20 The district court
lacked the power to compel the prosecutor to pursue a violation
of the ninth condition rather than the first condition.
Second, the limitation of a “[s]ubstance abuse violation”
under § 29-2266(5) to activities of drug usage, rather than pos-
session, follows from the statutory language and is consistent
with other criminal statutes. The Nebraska Criminal Code 21
does not criminalize “use” of controlled substances. Rather, it
prohibits possession of them.22 This distinction is fundamental
in Nebraska’s criminal law, and we discern no intent of the
Legislature to obliterate that difference.
[11-13] Third, the listed examples focus on use and not
possession. Employing the word “including” in § 29-2266
demonstrates the list was not intended to be an exhaustive list.
Traditionally, the word “include” in a statute connotes that the
provided list of components is not exhaustive and that there
are other items includable though not specifically enumer­
ated.23 And because the identified examples of substance abuse
focus on use rather than possession, none of the items listed
is a misdemeanor or felony. Possession of methamphetamine,
on the other hand, is a felony.24 Noscitur a sociis is a “well-
worn Latin phrase that tells us that statutory words are often
known by the company they keep.”25 Our cases have not used
that phrase, but we have stated that words grouped in a list
20
See Polikov v. Neth, 270 Neb. 29, 699 N.W.2d 802 (2005).
21
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-101 to 28-1357 and 28-1601 to 28-1603 (Reissue
2016, Cum. Supp. 2018 & Supp. 2019).
22
See § 28-416. But, see, § 28-417(1)(g) (criminalizing being under influence
of controlled substance).
23
Stephens v. Stephens, 297 Neb. 188, 899 N.W.2d 582 (2017).
24
See § 28-416.
25
Lagos v. U.S., ___ U.S. ___, 138 S. Ct. 1684, 1688-89, 201 L. Ed. 2d 1
(2018).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
within a statute should be given related meaning.26 Here, these
principles dictate that the examples included in the list should
guide our understanding of § 29-2266(5).
[14] Fourth, the district court’s interpretation effectively
inserts the words “or possession” after the word “use” in
§ 29-2266(5). But it is not for the courts to supply miss-
ing words or sentences to a statute to supply that which is
not there.27
Finally, we are not persuaded that declining to classify a fel-
ony drug offense as a substance abuse violation will lead to an
absurd result. Jedlicka argues that “[a]n absurd result would be
created if probationers . . . face revocation of probation when
caught with an illegal drug prior to using it, but merely face
a custodial sanction if they consume the controlled substance
and then submit a positive drug test.”28 And the district court
similarly reasoned that possession of a controlled substance
must be a substance abuse violation because one of the listed
violations—testing positive for the use of illegal drugs—cannot
occur without possessing the illegal drug.
Both of these premises are flawed. Contrary to Jedlicka’s
premise, a probationer does not necessarily face revoca-
tion from drug possession. Where, as here, the conditions
of probation prohibit both law violations and the possession
of drugs, a prosecutor can elect to seek a custodial sanc-
tion for possession in violation of one condition rather than
revocation for a law violation contrary to another condition.
In other words, probationers do not automatically face revo-
cation for possession of drugs. And contrary to the district
court’s premise, testing positive can result without posses-
sion although we acknowledge that would not usually be
the case. There is a logical reason for treating possession
26
See, State v. Smith, 286 Neb. 77, 834 N.W.2d 799 (2013); State v. Kipf,
234 Neb. 227, 450 N.W.2d 397 (1990).
27
State v. Jones, 264 Neb. 812, 652 N.W.2d 288 (2002).
28
Brief for appellee at 7.
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
Cite as 305 Neb. 52
different from ingestion—the former is a crime,29 while the
latter is not.30
The law provides a range of techniques to discourage the
use of an illegal controlled substance by a probationer. One
using a controlled substance in his or her own home is unlikely
to be caught in the act. Subsequent urinalysis testing can
reveal usage. But because it is not a crime to have a positive
urinalysis, administrative or custodial sanctions can then be
imposed to hold a probationer accountable for probation viola-
tions without commencing revocation proceedings.31 But even
where a probationer is caught in the act of illegal possession,
revocation does not follow automatically.
In determining whether to allege a law violation or a use
or possession violation, prosecutors should respect the goals
of the Legislature underlying the range of tools provided.
In trying to slow or reverse the growth of Nebraska’s prison
population, the Legislature has authorized administrative or
custodial sanctions as an alternative to revocation. Where drug
use is the problem, § 29-2267(3) requires that custodial sanc-
tions be used before pursuing probation revocation. But where
a probationer engages in serious criminal conduct, revoca-
tion proceedings may be appropriate without first pursuing
custodial sanctions. Because Jedlicka allegedly committed a
new felony while already on probation for a felony, the State
could institute revocation proceedings without showing that
Jedlicka had served at least 90 days of cumulative custodial
sanctions during her current probation term. We sustain the
State’s exception.
In doing so, we express no opinion regarding what the ulti-
mate result of the proceeding should be. At this point, there
has been no admission or adjudication of the existence of a
29
See § 28-416.
30
But, see, § 28-417(1)(g) (criminalizing being under influence of controlled
substance).
31
See §§ 29-2266.01 to 29-2266.03.
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
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violation; nor has any factual record been developed. Our deci-
sion should not be read to foreshadow revocation of Jedlicka’s
probation. We determine only that the district court erred in
quashing the information charging a probation violation based
upon a law violation.
Effect of Decision
Because the State’s exception to the district court’s decision
has merit, we turn to the effect of our decision on Jedlicka’s
case. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2316 (Reissue 2016):
The judgment of the court in any action taken pursu-
ant to section 29-2315.01 shall not be reversed nor in
any manner affected when the defendant in the trial court
has been placed legally in jeopardy, but in such cases the
decision of the appellate court shall determine the law
to govern in any similar case which may be pending at
the time the decision is rendered or which may thereaf-
ter arise in the state. When the decision of the appellate
court establishes that the final order of the trial court was
erroneous and the defendant had not been placed legally
in jeopardy prior to the entry of such erroneous order,
the trial court may upon application of the prosecuting
attorney issue its warrant for the rearrest of the defendant
and the cause against him or her shall thereupon proceed
in accordance with the law as determined by the decision
of the appellate court.
Whether our decision can affect Jedlicka depends on whether
she “has been placed legally in jeopardy.”32
[15,16] Application of § 29-2316 by its terms turns on
whether the defendant has been placed in jeopardy in the trial
court, not by whether the Double Jeopardy Clause bars further
action.33 In Nebraska, jeopardy attaches (1) in a case tried to a
jury, when the jury is impaneled and sworn; (2) when a judge,
32
§ 29-2316.
33
State v. Thalken, 299 Neb. 857, 911 N.W.2d 562 (2018).
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STATE v. JEDLICKA
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hearing a case without a jury, begins to hear evidence as to the
guilt of the defendant; or (3) at the time the trial court accepts
the defendant’s guilty plea.34 Clearly, jeopardy has not attached
under the circumstances here. We therefore remand the cause
to the district court for further proceedings.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the district court erred in sustaining
Jedlicka’s motion to quash. The State’s exception is sustained,
and because jeopardy did not attach, the cause is remanded to
the district court for further proceedings under § 29-2316.
Exception sustained, and cause remanded
for further proceedings.
34
State v. Manjikian, 303 Neb. 100, 927 N.W.2d 48 (2019).