State v. Kenney

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
v. ) ID No. 2207015080
)
MARK KENNEY, )
)
Defendant. )
Date Submitted: February 8, 2024
Date Decided: March 18, 2024
Date Corrected: March 20, 20241
ORDER
Upon consideration of Defendant Mark Kenney’s (“Kenney”) Motion for
Modification of Partial Confinement or Probation (“Motion”), 2 Superior Court
Criminal Rule 35(b),3 statutory and decisional law, and the record in this case, IT
APPEARS THAT:
(1) On March 13, 2023, Kenney pled guilty to Forgery Second Degree and
Conspiracy Second Degree.4 That same day, Kenney was sentenced as follows: for
Forgery Second Degree (IN22-08-0800), 1 year Level V suspended after 23 days for
1
Correction made only to the ID number.
2
D.I. 16.
3
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 35(b).
4
D.I. 6.
1 year at Level III; and for Conspiracy Second Degree (IN22-08-0801), 2 years at
Level V suspended for 1 year at Level III.5
(2) On January 3, 2024, a Violation of Probation (“VOP”) hearing was
held. 6 At the VOP hearing, Kenney was found in violation of the terms of his
probation and sentenced as follows: for Forgery Second Degree VOP (VN22-08-
0800-01), 2 years at Level V, suspended for 1 year at Level IV, suspended after
successful completion for 6 months Level III; and for Conspiracy Second Degree
VOP (VN22-08-0801-01), 2 years at Level V, suspended after 6 months at Level III,
probation to run concurrent.7
(3) On February 8, 2024, Kenney filed the instant Motion asking the Court
to flow him down from Level IV to Level III so he can receive treatment at Banyan
and upon successful completion of the program, transition him to 9 months of Level
III GPS monitoring.8
(4) Rule 35(b) governs motions for modification or reduction of sentence.9
“A motion for modification of partial confinement or probation is not subject to the
ninety-day limitation applicable to a motion for reduction of imprisonment.” 10
5
D.I. 11.
6
D.I. 15.
7
Id.
8
D.I. 16.
9
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 35(b).
10
State v. Baily, 2017 WL 8787504, at *1 (Del. Super. Oct. 3, 2017); State v. Redden, 111 A.3d
602, 609 (Del. Super. 2015).
Under 11 Del. C. § 4333, any probation or suspension of sentence may be terminated
at the Court’s discretion.11
(5) The Court’s authority to grant relief under Rule 35(b) is discretionary.12
Rule 35(b) does not provide specific considerations the Court must consider, rather
“the Court exercises broad discretion in determining whether a situation or set of
individual factors can be viewed.”13
(6) In support of his Motion, Kenney cites that his mother has stage 3 lung
cancer, and he would like to be with her while he still has a chance.14 Kenney claims
that he is not receiving the help he needs from the Road to Recovery and that he is
now on medically assisted treatment.15
(7) The Level IV confinement imposed by the Court was ordered after a
VOP hearing during which the Court found Kenney had violated the terms of his
probation. The Court notes that at the time of the violation, Kenney was involved
with a Level III treatment program where he continued to fail drug tests and was
non-compliant with treatment. This non-compliance was the basis for his VOP. No
information has been provided to the Court that would warrant the modification
sought. The sentence is appropriate for all the reasons stated at the VOP hearing.
11
Id.
12
Id.
13
State v. Redden, 111 A.3d 602, 609 (2015).
14
D.I. 16.
15
Id.NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Mark Kenney’s
Modification of Partial Confinement or Probation is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Jan R. Jurden
Jan R. Jurden, President Judge
cc: Original to Prothonotary
Samuel B. Kenney, DAG
Mark Kenney (SBI # 00427159)