Blakeman v. State, No. 01-130
Decision Date | 11 December 2002 |
Docket Number | No. 02-26., No. 01-130 |
Citation | 2002 WY 177,59 P.3d 140 |
Parties | Rodney Dean BLAKEMAN, Appellant (Defendant), v. The STATE Of Wyoming, Appellee (Plaintiff). |
Court | Wyoming Supreme Court |
Kenneth M. Koski, State Public Defender; Donna D. Domonkos, Appellate Counsel; and Tina N. Kerin, Senior Assistant Appellate Counsel, Representing Appellant.
Hoke MacMillan, Attorney General; Paul S. Rehurek, Deputy Attorney General; D. Michael Pauling, Senior Assistant Attorney General; and Georgia L. Tibbetts, Senior
Assistant Attorney General, Representing Appellee.
Before HILL, C.J., and GOLDEN, LEHMAN,1 KITE, and VOIGT, JJ.
[¶ 1] In this consolidated appeal, Appellant Rodney Dean Blakeman challenges the sentences the district court imposed after he pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against his daughters. This court holds the district court properly applied the enhancement provisions of the statute pertaining to multiple sexual assaults and did not violate Mr. Blakeman's right to be free from double jeopardy. In addition, we hold Mr. Blakeman's sentences were not disproportionately long.
[¶ 2] We affirm.
[¶ 3] In Case No. 01-130, Mr. Blakeman presents the following issues:
In Case No. 02-26, Mr. Blakeman articulates a single issue in his appeal of the district court's denial of his motion to correct an illegal sentence: "Did the trial court err in denying Appellant's motion to correct illegal sentence?" Appellee State of Wyoming combined its responses to both of Mr. Blakeman's cases in a single brief and stated the following issue: "Did the district court abuse its discretion in imposing sentence?"
[¶ 4] Mr. Blakeman pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against his two daughters, including: one count of attempted second-degree sexual assault under Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-1-301(a)(i) and 6-2-303(a)(vi) (LexisNexis 2001); two counts of first-degree sexual assault under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-302(a)(i) (LexisNexis 2001); and three counts of second-degree sexual assault under § 6-2-303(a)(vi). The parties to the plea agreement expressly acknowledged they did not have an understanding as to sentencing.
[¶ 5] At the sentencing hearing, the district court considered the entire record in the case, the presentence investigation report, Mr. Blakeman's objections to that report, the victims' statements of the impact their father's assaults had upon them, Mr. Blakeman's statement, and counsel's arguments. The district court then applied the enhanced penalty provisions of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-306 (LexisNexis 2001) and sentenced Mr. Blakeman to serve six consecutive prison sentences of thirty years to life. Mr. Blakeman filed a timely notice of appeal.
[¶ 6] While his appeal was pending, Mr. Blakeman filed a motion to correct an illegal sentence in the district court. The district court denied his motion, and Mr. Blakeman appealed. Because Mr. Blakeman asserted the same arguments in both appeals, the Wyoming Supreme Court consolidated the cases for response by the state and for decision.
[¶ 7] In both cases currently before this court, Mr. Blakeman contends the district court erred by enhancing his sentence under § 6-2-306(c) on each count. He claims that, by applying the extended punishment provision of the statute to each count, the district court violated his constitutional right to be free from double jeopardy and also incorrectly interpreted the language of § 6-2-306(c).
[¶ 8] Section 6-2-306 states:
[¶ 9] In DeLoge v. State, 2002 WY 155, 55 P.3d 1233 (Wyo.2002), we addressed arguments identical to those presented by Mr. Blakeman in the cases at bar. Like Mr. Blakeman, Mr. DeLoge argued that the district court subjected him to double jeopardy by using the same offense to sentence him for the underlying offense and to enhance his punishment. We held that use of the offenses in this manner does not violate a defendant's right to be free from double jeopardy. DeLoge, 2002 WY 155, ¶ 12.
[¶ 10] Mr. Blakeman also claims the district court misconstrued § 6-2-306 when it enhanced each of his convictions. Again, this issue was addressed in DeLoge:
When we apply the applicable rules of statutory construction to this statute, we are compelled to conclude that the legislative intent is clear that a defendant who is being sentenced for two or more separate acts of sexual assault in the second degree may be sentenced to a life sentence for each separate act. Stambaugh v. State, 613 P.2d 1237, 1241-43 (Wyo.1980).
Id. at ¶ 10, 55 P.3d 1233.
[¶ 11] Finally, Mr. Blakeman contends the district court erred by imposing sentences which were disproportionately long when analyzed in accordance with the criteria articulated in Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983). In Solem, the United States Supreme Court outlined the factors to be used in determining, under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, whether a sentence is disproportionately long:
In sum, a court's proportionality analysis under the Eighth Amendment should be guided by objective criteria, including (i) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty; (ii) the sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and (iii) the sentences imposed for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions.
463 U.S. at 292, 103 S.Ct. 3001. Nevertheless, as we...
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