State v. Sprinkle , 300 Mont. 405 ( 2000 )

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No. 99-294
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2000 MT 188300 Mont. 4054 P.3d 1204STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
COREY ALAN SPRINKLE,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District,
In and for the County of Lewis and Clark,
The Honorable Jeffrey M. Sherlock, Judge presiding.
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COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Jeremy Gersovitz, Lewis and Clark County Assistant Public Defender,
Helena, Montana
For Respondent:
Hon. Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; Tammy K. Plubell,
Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Mike McGrath, Lewis and Clark County Attorney; Lisa Leckie, Deputy
County Attorney, Helena, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: May 25, 2000
Decided: July 18, 2000
Filed:
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__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Terry N. Trieweiler delivered the opinion of the Court.
1. ¶By Information filed in the District Court for the First Judicial District in Lewis
and Clark County, the State charged the Defendant, Corey Alan Sprinkle, with
criminal sale of dangerous drugs, a felony, in violation of § 45-9-101, MCA;
criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a misdemeanor, in violation of § 45-9-102,
MCA; and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, in violation
of § 45-10-103, MCA. Sprinkle pled guilty to each offense. The District Court
sentenced Sprinkle to a term of 20 years in prison pursuant to § 45-9-101(3), MCA.
Sprinkle appeals the District Court's sentencing order. We vacate and remand for
findings of fact.
2. ¶Although Sprinkle raised two issues on appeal, the following issue is dispositive:
3. ¶Did the District Court err when it failed to enter findings of fact to support its
conclusion that Sprinkle was not excepted from the mandatory minimum sentence
required by § 45-9-101(3), MCA?
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
1. ¶Following Sprinkle's involvement in a drug transaction, the State charged Sprinkle
with several offenses including criminal sale of dangerous drugs, a felony, in
violation of § 45-9-101, MCA. Sprinkle pled guilty to each offense.
2. ¶On February 18, 1999, the District Court, following a sentencing hearing,
sentenced Sprinkle to a prison term of 20 years for the felony conviction pursuant to
the mandatory minimum sentence requirement found at § 45-9-101(3), MCA. The
District Court concluded that none of the exceptions to the mandatory minimum
sentence found at § 46-18-222, MCA, applied to Sprinkle.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
1. ¶ Sentencing is based on statutory law. See State v. Stevens (1993), 259 Mont. 114,
115, 854 P.2d 336, 337. We review the district court's application of the sentencing
statutes to determine whether the district court was correct. State v. LaMere (1995),
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272 Mont. 355, 358, 900 P.2d 926, 928.
DISCUSSION
1. ¶Did the District Court err when it failed to enter findings of fact to support its
conclusion that Sprinkle was not excepted from the mandatory minimum sentence
required by § 45-9-101(3), MCA?
2. ¶Section 45-9-101(3), MCA, provides the following mandatory minimums:
A person convicted of criminal distribution of a dangerous drug included in Schedule I or
Schedule II pursuant to 50-32-222 or 50-32-224, except marijuana or
tetrahydrocannabinol, who has a prior conviction for criminal distribution of such a drug
shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 10 years or more than life
and may be fined not more than $50,000, except as provided in 46-18-222. Upon a third or
subsequent conviction for criminal distribution of such a drug, the person shall be
imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 20 years or more than life and
may be fined not more than $50,000, except as provided in 46-18-222.
Section 46-18-222, MCA, provides:
Mandatory minimum sentences prescribed by the laws of this state, . . . do not apply if:
....
(4) the offender was an accomplice, the conduct constituting the offense was principally
the conduct of another, and the offender's participation was relatively minor . . . .
1. ¶It is conceded that Sprinkle had the necessary number of prior convictions to
qualify for the mandatory minimum sentence, however, Sprinkle contends that he is
excepted from the mandatory minimum sentence because his participation in the
drug transaction was relatively minor, which he asserts qualifies him for the
exception provided at § 46-18-222(4), MCA. Sprinkle also contends that the District
Court erred when it did not enter findings of fact to support its conclusion. The State
responds that substantial evidence supports the District Court's conclusion that
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Sprinkle did not qualify for the exception, but concedes that the District Court
should have entered findings of fact to support its conclusion.
2. ¶Section 46-18-223, MCA, provides:
(1) When the application of an exception provided for in 46-18-222 is an issue, the court
shall grant the defendant a hearing prior to the imposition of sentence to determine the
applicability of the exception.
(2) The hearing shall be held before the court sitting without a jury. The defendant and the
prosecution are entitled to assistance of counsel, compulsory process, and cross-
examination of witnesses who appear at the hearing.
(3) If it appears by a preponderance of the information, including information submitted
during the trial, during the sentencing hearing, and in so much of the presentence report as
the court relies on, that none of the exceptions at issue apply, the court shall impose the
appropriate mandatory sentence. The court shall state the reasons for its decision in
writing and shall include an identification of the facts relied upon in making its
determination. The statement shall be included in the judgment.
(Emphasis added.)
1. ¶In this case, the District Court did not comply with the requirements of § 46-18-
223, MCA. The purpose of findings is to demonstrate the factual basis for the
district court's judgment. See Jones v. Jones (1980), 190 Mont. 221, 223-24, 620
P.2d 850, 851. Without findings we have no basis upon which to review that
judgment. We, therefore, cannot review the merits of Sprinkle's first issue until the
District Court complies with § 46-18-223, MCA. Accordingly, we hold that the
District Court erred when it failed to enter findings of fact to support its conclusion
that Sprinkle was not excepted from the mandatory minimum sentence found at §
45-9-101(3), MCA.
2. ¶We remand this case to the District Court for entry of findings to support its
conclusion that the exception found at § 46-18-222(4), MCA, does not apply to the
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mandatory minimum sentence required by § 45-9-101(3), MCA.
/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER
We Concur:
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
/S/ JIM REGNIER
/S/ WILLIAM E. HUNT, SR.
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
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