Jerry Lee Jackson v. State of Mississippi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 95-CA-00905-SCT
JERRY LEE JACKSON
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND MAY NOT BE CITED,
PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-A
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/21/95
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. KOSTA N. VLAHOS
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HARRISON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: PRO SE
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: WAYNE SNUGGS
BY: SCOTT STUART
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: CONO CARANNA
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - POST CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION: REVERSED AND REMANDED - 12/4/97
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED: 12/30/97
EN BANC.
BANKS, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
In this case we are faced with the question of whether a judge may impose a life sentence upon a
defendant who pled guilty to armed robbery and rape where the statute states that only a jury may
impose life sentences for those crimes. Because we find that a court may not impose such sentences,
we vacate the life sentences.
I.
Jerry Lee Jackson was indicted on September 20, 1990, in Harrison County, Mississippi, for
burglary, rape, armed robbery, kidnaping, and sexual battery. On September 24, 1991, Jackson,
assisted by counsel, pled guilty to rape and armed robbery. The remaining charges were "passed to
the files." The circuit court judge sentenced Jackson to two life sentences, to be served consecutively.
On September 3, 1993, Jackson filed a "Motion to Correct/Amend or Reduce Sentence" in the
Harrison County Circuit Court, asserting that he had not fully understood the seriousness or possible
outcome of entering a guilty plea, that he did not know what the word "consecutive" actually meant,
and that he had received ineffective assistance of counsel. Treating the motion as a request for "post
collateral attack" pursuant to § 99-39-9, the trial court dismissed it on March 8, 1995, for failing to
comply with the requirements of that statute. Jackson had failed to affix an oath to his Motion
verifying that his assertions in the Motion had been made truthfully. The record does not reflect any
appeal to this Court or any other appeal of this dismissal.
On April 10, 1995, Jackson filed another "Motion to Correct Sentences and/or Motion to Vacate
Sentences" in the Harrison County Circuit Court. He asserted several assignments of error: (1) he did
not enter his plea of guilty in a knowing, intelligent or voluntary manner; (2) the trial court unlawfully
sentenced him to life in prison when the enabling statute only allowed a jury to give a life sentence;
(3) the trial court failed to advise Jackson of the nature and consequences of his guilty plea; (4) the
trial court failed to advise Jackson of the maximum and minimum possible penalties to his crimes of
conviction; and (5) Jackson received ineffective assistance of counsel.
Again treating the motion as one for relief under the Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act, the circuit
court denied it as untimely, as it was filed more than three years after the entry of Jackson's
conviction. Jackson presently appeals this order, arguing that the trial court was in error in ruling that
his petition was untimely and, alternatively, that this Court has recognized exceptions to procedural
bars where the record supports fundamental error. He further reiterates his errors raised below, i.e.,
that the trial court was without authority to sentence him to life in prison and that he received
ineffective assistance of counsel.
II.
Jackson first argues that the trial court erred in concluding that his petition for relief was untimely.
He asserts that his petition was in fact timely because he filed it a month after the trial court dismissed
his first petition due to a formal defect. Alternatively, Jackson argues that his petition alleges that he
is suffering an illegal sentence, a posture that would support an exception to the time bar. We will
consider both arguments in turn.
a. whether Motion was timely
The circuit court was in error in determining that Jackson's motion for relief was untimely. As
Jackson notes, he filed the instant petition one month after the circuit court dismissed his first petition
for a purely formal error. That first petition was filed well within the three year time bar imposed
under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2). The circuit court's dismissal of that first petition was entered
eighteen months after Jackson moved for relief and only after Jackson petitioned this Court for a writ
of mandamus directing the circuit court to rule. By the time the court entered its dismissal for the
formal defect (that Jackson had failed to affix an oath that the statements contained therein were true)
, more than three years had passed from the time of Jackson's conviction and sentence.
Miss. Code Ann. Section 15-1-69 provides as follows:
If any action, duly commenced within the time allowed, the writ shall be abated, or the action
otherwise avoided or defeated, by the death of any party thereto, or for any matter of form . . .
the plaintiff may commence a new action for the same cause, at any time within one year afer
the abatement or other determination of the original suit . . . .
(emphasis added).
The circuit court's dismissal of Jackson's original petition was an abatement for a matter of form
within the meaning of this statute, and therefore Jackson was entitled to commence a new action for
the same cause up to one year after that dismissal. See, e.g.,Lang v. Fatheree, 15 Miss. 404 (1846)
(noting that this section enlarged the general time of limitation). Thus, we reverse the circuit court's
dismissal of Jackson's second petition.
b. whether court was within its jurisdiction in sentencing Jackson to life imprisonment
Jackson also argues that the two life sentences were illegal because the rape and armed robbery
criminal statutes did not authorize life sentences without a jury recommendation. While we have
already noted that addressing this contention is unnecessary to avoid the time bar for his petition, this
contention forms the meat of his substantive request for relief and will be addressed at this juncture as
a matter of judicial economy.
The State argues that the court did not exceed its authority in sentencing Jackson to two life
sentences because the trial court was, in this case, sitting as the finder of fact on these charges
pursuant to Jackson's waiver of his right to trial by jury and was thereby entitled to sentence Jackson
to life. It cites in its support Evans v. State, 547 So. 2d 38 (Miss. 1989), in which this Court held that
a defendant could be sentenced to life in prison by a trial court when the defendant had waived his
right to a jury trial and the trial court had therefore sat as the trier of fact. The State also notes that
Jackson expressly waived his right to have a jury assess whether he ought to get a life sentence and
further assented to the court's acceptance of the State's recommendation that he be sentenced to two
life terms in absence of any such jury determination. The State distinguishes Lanier v. State, 635 So.
2d 813 (Miss. 1994), in which this Court held that an accused could not assent to a sentence that was
wholly unauthorized by statute, on the theory that the sentence given in this case was in fact
authorized by law as long as the jury concluded that it was appropriate. Thus, Lanier does not apply.
Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-65(2) and 97-3-79 provide for life sentences if fixed by the jury for the
crimes of rape and armed robbery, respectively. Contrary to the State's assertions, Jackson is correct
in his assertion that the trial court in this case was without authority to sentence him to life
imprisonment in the absence of such a jury verdict to that effect and that he could not waive his right
to a lawful sentence. This Court has strictly construed the statutory language that only a jury can
recommend life imprisonment for rape and armed robbery. In addition, this court has repeatedly held
that, where a defendant has pled guilty to crimes which provide for jury recommendations of life
sentences, the sentencing court may not thereafter sentence the defendant to life imprisonment. See,
e.g.,Luckett v. State, 582 So. 2d 428 (Miss. 1991) (reversing life sentence after defendant pled guilty
to rape); see also Kennedy v. State, 626 So. 2d 103 (Miss. 1993) (reversing sentence of 99 years
upon plea of guilty to armed robbery because such sentence was tantamount to life imprisonment and
therefore violative of the statute, since no jury had recommended that the defendant suffer a life
sentence).
The State's reliance on Evans v. State, 547 So. 2d 38 is misplaced. Although there we did hold that
the term "jury" was synonymous with "trier of fact," the trial court in that case sat during a full bench
trial, not simply as a sentencing authority. There we concluded that the court was sitting as the trier
of fact during Evans' rape trial and thus filled the role that would have ordinarily been played by the
jury as contemplated by the statutes in question. In that context then, the statutory term "jury" was
synonymous with "trier of fact."
There was no bench trial in this case in which the court sat as the trier of fact since the defendant pled
guilty. Obviously then there was no trier of fact, be it the jury as in a jury trial or the trial court as in a
bench trial who could recommend a sentence of life imprisonment as allowed under Miss. Code Ann.
§§ 97-3-65(2) and 97-3-79. We therefore hold that the trial court was without statutory authority to
sentence Jackson to life imprisonment for rape and armed robbery.
c. waiver
The State notes for this Court that the record in this case reflects the trial court's attempt to obtain a
waiver of Jackson's right to have the jury sentence him to life, instead of the court, on the State's
recommendation:
BY THE COURT: Mr. Jackson and Mr. Holder [defense counsel], let me ask you this: In
addition to a right to a jury trial for the jury to decide whether you're guilty or not guilty, that
would be known as the guilt phase, the jury under these particular counts would also have the
right to decide whether or not the facts in this case sufficiently cry out for and demand a life
sentence. Do you understand that, Mr. Jackson?
MR. JACKSON: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: And do you tell the court that you prefer or your agreement with your attorney
is that you give up this right for the jury to declare a life sentence?
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Do you understand what he's saying?
BY THE COURT: Yes.
(Mr. Holder had a discussion of this matter with the defendant.)
BY THE COURT: Do you understand that?
BY MR. JACKSON: Yeah.
BY THE COURT: The statute says the punishment on armed robbery is not less than three up
to life if the jury fixes life. Okay. And I need to know from you whether or not you are willing
to waive or give up the right for a jury to decide whether there should be a life sentence and let
me go ahead and impose a life sentence if I decide to follow the State's recommendation?
BY MR. JACKSON: I let you go ahead and do it, sir.
...
BY THE COURT: And you give up the right to let the jury decide that question; yes or no?
BY MR. JACKSON: Yeah.
...
BY THE COURT: I really believe if there is any problem with [me sentencing Jackson to life] it
would only come back with sentencing and then I would go ahead and impose a day less than
your life expectancy, and I think it translates basically to the same.
I'm satisfied that he's freely and voluntarily given up his statutory right, and based on the plea
bargain agreement and the deliberations and the time of the deliberations that have been
involved in this case, the Court is of the opinion that he has given up that right . . . .
This waiver is inoperative for two reasons. First, the trial court misinterpreted the statute as
conferring upon Jackson a right to have a jury determine the aptness of a life sentence, which was
waivable. On the contrary, a plain reading of the statute reveals it to command that only a jury may
return a sentence of life:
[u]pon conviction [of armed robbery, a defendant] shall be imprisoned for life in the state
penitentiary if the penalty is so fixed by the jury; and in cases where the jury fails to fix the
penalty at imprisonment for life in the state penitentiary the court shall fix the penalty at
imprisonment in the state penitentiary for any term not less than three (3) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-79 (emphasis added)
Similarly, Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-65(2) provides that:
[Every person convicted of rape of a person older than 14 years] shall be imprisoned for life in
the State penitentiary if the jury by its verdict so prescribes; and in cases where the jury fails to
fix the penalty at life imprisonment the court shall fix the penalty at imprisonment in the State
Penitentiary for any term as the court, in its discretion, may determine.
(emphasis added).
This legislation clearly intends for persons convicted of rape or armed robbery to suffer life
imprisonment only if deemed appropriate by a jury, which we have previously held to include the
court when it sits as a trier of fact in a rape trial. This is distinct from a scheme in which Jackson
would have had the right (or option) to have a jury (or trier of fact) consider whether he deserved life
imprisonment for his crimes. Therefore, the trial court was incorrect in its assessment that the jury
determination of a life sentence was a right that Jackson could waive; rather, the statute limits the
authority of a court to impose a life sentence to those instances where a jury recommends such.
Moreover, this Court has held that a defendant cannot waive his right to be sentenced within the
bounds of the statutory parameters. In particular, this Court has held that a court has no authority to
sentence a convicted defendant beyond the legislative prescriptions, regardless of any attempted
waiver in the record. Lanier v. State, 635 So. 2d 813; see also Luckett v. State, 582 So. 2d 428.
Therefore, the trial court's attempt to obtain from Jackson a waiver of his right to have a jury assess
whether he deserved life imprisonment was inoperative since that sentence, as given by the court
alone, was contrary to the controlling statutes. As such, we vacate the life sentence and remand the
cause for consideration of the rest of his second petition for post-conviction relief and, if necessary,
re-sentencing in conformity with the statutes.
d. ineffective assistance of counsel
Jackson's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel rests entirely upon his contention that his counsel
should not have allowed him to be sentenced to two illegal life sentences. Since we have concluded
that Jackson's sentence must be vacated as unlawful, it is unnecessary to address this independent,
related claim. Thus, we decline to reach this moot contention.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we vacate Jackson's two life sentences and remand this cause for proceedings not
inconsistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
PRATHER AND SULLIVAN, P.JJ., PITTMAN AND McRAE, JJ., CONCUR. MILLS, J.,
DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY LEE, C.J., ROBERTS AND
SMITH, JJ.
MILLS, JUSTICE, DISSENTING:
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion.
This case deals with the imposition of consecutive life sentences to Jerry Lee Jackson, who plead
guilty to both armed robbery and rape. Jackson raises the issue of whether the trial court was within
its jurisdiction in sentencing him to life imprisonment. I believe that the trial court acted well within
its statutorily granted authority.
It is well settled that trial by jury in criminal cases may be waived by agreement of the defendant and
prosecution except where the death penalty is involved. Evans v. State, 547 So. 2d 38 (Miss.1989).
In this case, Jackson pleaded guilty and waived his right to a jury trial. The trial judge then sentenced
Jackson to life imprisonment.
The majority asserts that, absent jury recommendation, the trial judge was powerless to impose a
sentence of life. The applicable statutes read:
Upon conviction [of armed robbery, a defendant] shall be imprisoned for life in the state penitentiary
if the penalty is so fixed by the jury; and in cases where the jury fails to fix the penalty at
imprisonment for life in the state penitentiary the court shall fix the penalty at imprisonment in the
state penitentiary for any term not less than three (3) years.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-79 (emphasis added).
[Every person convicted of rape of a person older than 14 years] shall be imprisoned for life in the
State penitentiary if the jury by its verdict so prescribes; and in cases where the jury fails to fix the
penalty at life imprisonment the court shall fix the penalty at imprisonment in the State Penitentiary
for any term as the court, in its discretion, may determine.
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-65(2) (emphasis added).
A plain reading of these statutes reveals that the court has discretion to fix the penalty for "any term"
that it decides is appropriate. Surely, "any term" includes a term of life. Therefore, I would find that
the life sentences for rape and armed robbery were properly imposed upon Mr. Jackson.
LEE, C.J., ROBERTS AND SMITH, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.