Dennis Lawrence Smith v. State of Mississippi

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2018-CA-00224-COA
DENNIS LAWRENCE SMITH APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 01/12/2018
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. WILLIAM E. CHAPMAN III
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: RANKIN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ANGELA YLONA COCKERHAM
CHARLES EDWARD COWAN
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: BILLY L. GORE
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 07/16/2019
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE BARNES, C.J., McDONALD AND C. WILSON, JJ.
McDONALD, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Dennis Lawrence Smith was sentenced to serve sixty years in the custody of the
Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) after he pleaded guilty to three counts of
the sale of cocaine with the subsequent offender enhancement. Smith filed a post-conviction
collateral relief (PCR) motion pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-5 (Rev.
2015), arguing that his sentence was disproportionate to the crime and constituted cruel and
unusual punishment. The circuit court summarily dismissed Smith’s motion without an
evidentiary hearing. Smith appeals that dismissal. In addition to the issues raised in his PCR
motion, on appeal he argues for the first time that (1) his sentence amounts to a life sentence
under the circumstances and (2) there was no evidence of a 1999 Rankin County conviction
of possession of a controlled substance subjecting him to an enhanced punishment. Finding
no error, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. Smith was indicted in the Rankin County Circuit Court on or about August 15, 2013,
on seven counts of violating Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-139 (Rev. 2013).1
The indictment alleged that Smith was subject to an enhanced punishment pursuant to
Mississippi Code Annotated section 41-29-147 (Rev. 2013) because he had previously been
convicted for possession of a controlled substance in the Rankin County Circuit Court (Cause
Number 10931) on August 23, 1999.
¶3. On November 18, 2013, during Smith’s plea and sentencing hearing, the court
discussed the elements of the crimes Smith pleaded guilty to:
Court: Now, this is a multi-count indictment. What counts is he
pleading to?
Mayes:2 He’s pleading to 1, 3, and 4, with the subsequent offender
enhancement, Your Honor.
....
Court: All right. In relation to Count 1, the elements are on or about
February 10th, 2013, in Rankin County, Mississippi, you did
willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, knowingly, and intentionally
sale, deliver, or transfer a quantity of cocaine to a person at a
1
Smith was indicted on five counts of the sale of cocaine, one count of the sale of
marijuana, and one count of possession of a controlled substance in violation of Mississippi
Code Annotated section 41-29-139, over the course of several months in Spring 2013.
2
Mayes was the prosecutor for the State at the time of the hearing.
2
time when you had been previously convicted of possession of
a controlled substance in Rankin County Cause No. 10931 on or
about August 23, 1999, and therefore subject to enhanced
punishment as a second or subsequent drug offender. Do you
understand those elements?
Smith: Yes, sir.
The court addressed the elements in relation to each count Smith pleaded guilty to. Smith
admitted to the 1999 conviction as to the other two counts as well. In addition, Smith agreed
with the factual basis which subjected him to an enhanced punishment:
Mayes: The State would further prove that this defendant was convicted
of possession of a controlled substance in the Circuit Court of
Rankin County in Cause No. 10931 on or about August the 23rd
of 1999, and as a result, is subject to enhanced punishment as a
second or subsequent offender under the Uniform Controlled
Substance Law.
Court: Do you have any disagreement with the factual basis?
Smith: No, sir.
Court: Mr. Houston, do you have any disagreement with the factual
basis?
Houston:3 No, Your Honor.
¶4. Smith proceeded to plead guilty to three counts of the sale of cocaine as a subsequent
offender. The circuit court sentenced Smith to serve a term of sixty years in the custody of
the MDOC and to be released after serving fifty years for Count I and one day for Count III
3
Houston was Smith’s attorney at the time of the hearing.
3
and Count IV.4 After the court sentenced Smith, there were no objections or disputes.
Smith’s attorney only requested that Smith be sentenced after the holidays without detailing
a purpose for the request.5 The court asked if there was “anything further” and Smith’s
attorney responded, “[N]o, your honor.” The court responded, “All right. Well good luck,
Mr. Smith.” Then, the hearing concluded.
¶5. On November 17, 2016, Smith filed a PCR motion arguing that his sentence was in
violation of the United States Constitution or the Mississippi Constitution because it was (1)
disproportionate to the crime and (2) constituted cruel and unusual punishment.6
¶6. On January 12, 2018, the circuit court ruled that it plainly appeared from the face of
Smith’s motion that he was not entitled to any relief; therefore, the court dismissed his
motion pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-11(2) (Rev. 2015).7 There was
not an evidentiary hearing on Smith’s PCR motion.
¶7. Smith timely filed his notice of appeal on February 12, 2018. On appeal, Smith argues
that the circuit court failed to consider the totality of the circumstances of his crimes and the
4
Upon Smith’s release, he was to serve a term of five years on post release
supervision. The court also ordered Smith to pay court costs, fees and assessments, and a
fine.
5
During the hearing, Smith offered no evidence that he was 49 years old and that his
sentence equated a life sentence.
6
Again, Smith did not attach any evidence to prove or suggest that his sentence
equated a life sentence.
7
Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-11(2) states, “[I]f it plainly appears from
the face of the motion, any annexed exhibits and the prior proceedings in the case that the
movant is not entitled to any relief, the judge may make an order for its dismissal and cause
the petitioner to be notified.”
4
circumstances of his past behaviors when dismissing his PCR motion. For the first time,
Smith argues that his sentence is grossly disproportionate because it amounts to a life
sentence under the circumstances and that there was no evidence of a Rankin County
conviction of possession of a controlled substance subjecting him to an enhanced
punishment.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶8. “The trial court has ‘considerable discretion’ in determining whether to grant an
evidentiary hearing.” Elliott v. State, 41 So. 3d 701, 709 (¶25) (Miss. Ct. App. 2009). It is
not a requirement that every PCR motion be afforded a full adversarial hearing by the trial-
level court. Id. at 709 (¶25). A trial-level court may summarily dismiss a post-conviction
relief motion “[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the motion, any annexed exhibits, and
the prior proceedings in the case that the movant is not entitled to any relief. . . .” Lofton v.
State, 233 So. 3d 907, 908 (¶9) (Miss. Ct. App. 2017), reh’g denied (Dec. 12, 2017), cert.
dismissed, 246 So. 3d 68 (Miss. 2018) (quoting Carter v. State, 204 So. 3d 791, 793 (¶5)
(Miss. Ct. App. 2016)); Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-11(2) (Rev. 2015). “This Court employs
the clearly-erroneous standard of review when reviewing a trial court’s summary dismissal
of a PCR motion.” Lofton, 233 So. 3d at 908 (¶9) (quoting Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-11(2)).
This Court will affirm a summary dismissal of a defendant’s PCR motion “if [he] fails to
demonstrate a claim procedurally alive substantially showing the denial of a state or federal
right.” Moore v. State, 248 So. 3d 845, 848 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2017), reh’g denied (Apr.
10, 2018), cert. denied, 247 So. 3d 1264 (Miss. 2018). When questions of law are raised,
5
however, this Court employs a de novo standard of review. Lofton, 233 So. 3d at 908 (¶9).
DISCUSSION
¶9. The State argues that Smith’s claim is procedurally barred because he waived his
rights when he did not object or raise any issues during his guilty plea and sentencing
hearing. But the Supreme Court has held “that the errors affecting fundamental rights are
exceptions to the rule that questions not raised in the trial court cannot be raised for the first
time on appeal.” Smith v. State, 477 So. 2d 191, 195 (Miss. 1985).8 This Court has found
that the following four types of fundamental rights survive PCR procedural bars: “(1) the
right against double jeopardy; (2) the right to be free from an illegal sentence; (3) the right
to due process at sentencing; and (4) the right not to be subject to ex post facto laws.”
Putnam v. State, 212 So. 3d 86, 92 (¶16) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). But this is not an exhaustive
list. The recent case of McCoy v. State illustrates that “ineffective assistance of counsel can
constitute an exception to the waiver and successive-writ bars.” McCoy v. State, No. 2017-
M-01735, 2019 WL 1578752, at *1 (Miss. Mar. 26, 2019). But “mere assertions of
constitutional-rights violations do not suffice to overcome the procedural bar.” White v.
State, 59 So. 3d 633, 636 (¶11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2011). “There must at least appear to be
some basis for the truth of the claim before the procedural bar will be waived.” Id. Because
Smith alleges an illegal sentence, his claim is not procedurally barred for failure to raise it
at his guilty plea and sentencing hearing.
8
See also Brooks v. State, 46 So. 2d 94, 97 (Miss. 1950) (“Constitutional rights in
serious criminal cases rise above mere rules of procedure. Errors affecting fundamental
rights are exceptions to the rule that questions not raised in the trial court cannot be raised
for the first time on appeal.”).
6
¶10. Smith argues that his claim fits within the illegal sentence exception because his
sentence (1) constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and
Section 28 of the Mississippi Constitution, and (2) it was disproportionate to the crime. We
disagree.
a. Cruel and Unusual Punishment
¶11. In Hampton, the Supreme Court expressly held:
“[S]entencing is within the complete discretion of the trial court and not
subject to appellate review if it is within the limits prescribed by statute.” [Cox
v. State, 793 So. 2d 591, 599 (¶38)] (quoting Hoops v. State, 681 So. 2d 521,
533 (Miss. 1996))[;] [s]ee also Ellis v. State, 326 So. 2d 466, 468 (Miss. 1976);
Ainsworth v. State, 304 So. 2d 656 (Miss. 1974); and Boone v. State, 291 So.
2d 182 (Miss. 1974). Furthermore, we have held that a “sentence within the
limits of the statute is not cruel or unusual.” Clanton v. State, 279 So. 2d 599,
602 (Miss. 1973); Green v. State, 270 So. 2d 695 (Miss. 1972).
“[A] sentence is not illegal unless it exceeds the maximum statutory penalty
for the crime.” Grayer, 120 So. 3d [964,] 969 [(¶16) (Miss. 2013)].
Hampton v. State, 148 So. 3d 992, 996 (¶¶11-12) (Miss. 2014).
¶12. In the case at bar, Smith’s sentence is not cruel or unusual because it did not exceed
the maximum statutory penalty. Section 41-29-139(b)(1)(C) requires a sentence for “not less
than five (5) years nor more than thirty (30) years,” and section 41-29-147 allows “any
person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this article may be imprisoned for
a term up to twice the term otherwise authorized.” Therefore, a sentence of 60 years for three
counts under section 41-29-139 (b)(1)(C) subject to the enhancement statute did not exceed
the maximum statutory penalty, which could have been 180 years.9
9
During Smith’s hearing he indicated that he understood what he was pleading guilty
to:
7
b. Gross Disproportionality
¶13. The only exception for a party seeking relief who cannot show that his/her sentence
exceeds the statutory penalty is “proof of gross disproportionality.” Willis v. State, 911 So.
2d 947, 951 (¶16) (Miss. 2005). “The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual
punishment protects citizens from disproportionately lengthy sentences.” Brown v. State, 130
So. 3d 1074, 1080 (¶18) (Miss. 2013). Smith argues that his sentence is disproportionate to
the crime for which he was convicted. There is a two-step process to determine whether a
Q. You understand the maximum sentence of 30 years is doubled to 60
years?
A. Yes, sir.
....
Q. And do you understand I could impose those maximum and minimum
fines and sentences for the three counts that you’re pleading guilty to?
A. Yes, sir.
....
Q. And I could order that you serve 60 years on each count, that is 1, 2
and – excuse me – 1, 3, and 4 consecutive, subjecting you to a total
maximum sentence of 180 years in the penitentiary?
A. Yes, sir.
....
Q. Do you understand the Court is not bound by the plea bargain
agreement but could impose the maximum sentence under all three
counts consecutively, subjecting you to that 180-year sentence that I
discussed with you earlier?
A. Yes, sir.
8
lengthy sentence is unconstitutional. “First, the person seeking relief must show that the
sentence itself leads to an inference of ‘gross disproportionality.’” Id. (citing Nichols v.
State, 826 So. 2d 1288, 1290 (Miss. 2002)). “Generally, sentences that do not exceed the
maximum punishment allowed by statute will not be considered grossly disproportionate and
will not be disturbed on appeal, but in some circumstances, proportionality review of
sentences is required.” Id.; Hoops v. State, 681 So. 2d 521, 537 (Miss. 1996).
¶14. Second, if an inference if gross disproportionality is shown, the United States
Supreme Court has set out several factors in determining whether a sentence is
disproportionate: “(1) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty; (2) the
sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and (3) the sentences imposed
for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions.” Willis, 911 So. 2d at 951 (¶17)
(citing Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 292-94 (1983)). The United States Supreme Court also
requires that all three factors be presented by a defendant when determining the
disproportionality of a sentence. Id. at (¶18). Here, Smith failed to address the third Solem
factor in his brief. In Willis, our supreme court found that failure to address one of the
abovementioned factors bars the claim:
Upon a careful reading of Willis’s brief, we conclude that Willis did not
address the third prong of the Solem inquiry (the sentences imposed for
commission of the same offense in other jurisdictions). This failure to address
all the Solem factors bars Willis’s claim on appeal.
Willis, 911 So. 2d at 951 (¶18).
¶15. As did Willis, Smith has failed to address the sentences imposed for commission of
the same crime in other jurisdictions; therefore, his gross disproportionality claim is barred
9
on appeal.
¶16. Despite this bar, even if Smith addressed the third Solem prong—the sentences
imposed for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions—his gross
disproportionality argument is still without merit. Smith argues that his sentence is grossly
disproportionate because this case is akin to that of Davis v. State, 724 So. 2d 342 (Miss.
1998); White v. State, 742 So. 2d 1126, 1129 (¶1) (Miss. 1999); and Green v. State, 762 So.
2d 810, 812 (¶2) (Miss. Ct. App. 2000). We disagree.
¶17. Davis was convicted for selling cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church and sentenced
to sixty years, in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated sections 41-29-139 and -142 (Rev.
1993). Davis, 724 So. 2d at 342-43 (¶1). She was a first time offender, yet she received the
maximum sentence allowed under both statutes. Id. at 344 (¶¶8-9). The supreme court
remanded the case for re-sentencing because it did not have enough information before it to
determine if the trial court abused its discretion. Id. at 346 (¶17). Similarly, White was
indicted for unlawful sale of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church for his sale of $40 worth
of crack cocaine to a confidential informant. White, 742 So. 2d at 1129 (¶1). The court
sentenced White to the maximum sentence of sixty years. Id. White had no prior convictions
for drug-related offenses. Id. at 1136 (¶38). The supreme court vacated White’s sentence
finding that there was nothing in the record to justify the sixty-year sentence. Id. at 1137
(¶46). Lastly, Green was also a first time offender that was convicted for selling crack
cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school. Green v. State, 762 So. 2d at 812 (¶2) (Miss. Ct. App.
2000). Green was sentenced to serve sixty years. Id. This court remanded Green for
10
consideration of the sentence in light of White and Davis. Green, 762 So. 2d at 814 (¶11).
¶18. We find that Davis, White, and Green are distinguishable to the case at bar. Here,
Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of selling cocaine under section 41-29-139(b)(1)(C) and
received a sixty-year sentence, as did the abovementioned appellants for their one-count
convictions. Unlike the appellants in Davis, White, and Green, Smith was a subsequent drug
offender, yet he was not sentenced to the statutory maximum.
¶19. This case analogous to that of Mosley v. State, 104 So. 3d 839 (Miss. 2012). In that
case, the jury found Mosley guilty on one count of selling cocaine, one count of selling
methamphetamine, and one count of selling marijuana. Id. at 840 (¶6). The court sentenced
him as a subsequent drug offender, and he received sixty-year sentences for the first two
counts and a six-year sentence for the third count. Id. at 841 (¶7). The trial court set these
sentences to run consecutively to one another, for a total of 126 years in the custody of the
MDOC, without the benefit of probation or early release. Id. On appeal, Mosley argued that
his 126-year sentence was “disproportionate to the crimes he committed and violat[ed] his
constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.” Id. at 840 (¶1). The
Supreme Court found that there was no inference of gross disproportionality because his
sentence was clearly within the statutory limits and affirmed the trial court’s 126-year
sentence. Id. at 842 (¶11).
¶20. Here, the circuit court correctly noted during Smith’s sentencing hearing that he could
have received a maximum of 30 years on each count he pleaded guilty to. In addition, the
sentence for each count could have been doubled under the enhancement statute. Therefore,
11
Smith could have been sentenced up to 180 years pursuant to section 41-29-139(b)(1)(C) and
section 41-29-147. Therefore, there is no inference of gross disproportionality and no
proportionality analysis is required. See Mosley, 104 So. 3d at 841-42 (¶¶ 9-11).
¶21. Accordingly, we find that Smith’s gross disproportionality claim is without merit.
CONCLUSION
¶22. Because there were no reversible errors, the circuit court’s summary dismissal is
affirmed.
¶23. AFFIRMED.
BARNES, C.J., CARLTON AND J. WILSON, P.JJ., GREENLEE,
WESTBROOKS, TINDELL, LAWRENCE, McCARTY AND C. WILSON, JJ.,
CONCUR.
12