Doughty v. De Amoreel

The plaintiff sues under the provisions of Gen. Laws cap. 233, § 16, to recover the double value of goods stolen. The section says: "Whenever any person shall be convicted of larceny," etc. In this case the defendant pleaded nolo contendere to an indictment for larceny, and thereupon, under Pub. Laws, January, 1899, cap. 664, § 7, he was placed under the control and supervision of a probation officer. The question is whether these facts amount to a conviction. The District Court held that the defendant had been convicted, and gave a decision for the plaintiff for double the value of the goods stolen. The defendant excepts to the ruling of the District Court.

We think that the exception must be sustained. In the strictest sense a conviction is not complete until it has become a judgment of the court by a sentence, since, before that time, a verdict may be set aside or a new trial granted for various causes. Commonwealth v. Gorham, 99 Mass. 420. The term is commonly used, however, to denote the finding of fact that the accused is guilty. Barker v. Almy, 20 R.I. 367. It is so used in our statutes, Gen Laws cap. 251, §§ 9, 10, where conviction is mentioned before a petition for a new trial, which operates to stay the sentence. Using the word in this sense, the District Court held that the defendant had been convicted because he could be sentenced upon his plea. but while a plea of nolo contendere may be followed by a sentence, it does not establish the fact of guilt for any other purposes than that of the case to which it applies. Doubtless it is often used as a substitute for a plea of guilty, but it simply says that the defendant will not contend. This is not a confession of guilt, because an accused person might find himself without witnesses to establish his innocence, from their death, absence, or other cause, and hence waive a fruitless contest. It was therefore held in State v. Conway,20 R.I. 270, that a plea of nolo contendere was not a conviction and could not be used for the purpose of discrediting a witness. See also Buck v. Commonwealth, 107 Pa. St. 486. The plaintiff argues, however, that the action of the court in placing the defendant under the control of the probation officer was equivalent to a sentence of imprisonment and to a judgment of the court upon the plea.

We do not think that this claim can be sustained. Pub. Laws (January, 1899) cap. 664, § 7, says: "Whenever any such offender shall be placed in the custody or under the control and supervision of any such officer, such officer shall have and exercise the same rights and power in relation to such offender as are or may be possessed by a surety on a recognizance."

As this action can only be taken in cases where the offender can lawfully be admitted to bail, it is clear, from the terms of the statute, that the action does not amount to a sentence, but only to a taking of bail. Excepting certain higher crimes, it applies to any offender, juvenile or adult; yet the main purpose of the statute is the reformation of juvenile offenders. A sentence is therefore carefully avoided, and the accused person is not imprisoned but is allowed to go upon his future good behavior. The language of the act is that the action of the court is provisional and "before sentence."

The suggestion of the plaintiff that this puts it in the power of the attorney-general to take away a plaintiff's right to double damages by accepting a plea of nolo contendere is without weight. The acceptance of the plea lies with the court.State v. Conway, supra. But, aside from this, the attorney-general has control of criminal complaints and may, in his discretion, enter a nol pros., which would equally prevent a plaintiff from maintaining such an action. The plaintiff has his right only under the terms of the statute, and that says: "When any person shall be convicted." The control of criminal procedure by the State is not to be limited for the purpose of allowing a plaintiff to recover double damages.

Exceptions sustained, and case remitted.