State v. Budgett

• Decision Date: 16 March 2001
• Docket Number: No. 99-028.,99-028.
• Citation: State v. Budgett, 769 A.2d 351, 146 N.H. 135 (N.H. 2001)
• Parties: THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE v. JOSHUA BUDGETT
• Court: New Hampshire Supreme Court

146 N.H. 135

769 A.2d 351

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE v.JOSHUA BUDGETT

No. 99-028.

Supreme Court of New Hampshire.

March 16, 2001.

Philip T. McLaughlin,attorney general(Janice K. Rundles, senior assistant attorney general, on the brief, and Ann M. Rice, senior assistant attorney general, orally), for the State.

James E. Duggan, chief appellate defender, of Concord, by brief and orally, for the defendant.

GROFF, J., superior court justice, specially assigned under RSA 490:3.

The defendant, Joshua Budgett, appeals an order of the Superior Court(Coffey, J.) revoking his suspended sentence.We reverse and remand.

The record supports the following facts.On January 12, 1994, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, seeRSA 632-A:2 (1996), and was sentenced to two concurrent terms of four to eight years in the New Hampshire State Prison.The trial court ordered that "[a]ll of the minimum sentence may be suspended by the Court on application of the defendant provided he demonstrates successful completion of a sexual offender program while incarcerated."

After the defendant successfully completed sex offender counseling, the trial court suspended the remainder of his minimum sentence "on the condition that, in the event of parole, the defendant not reside in the victim's neighborhood."The defendant was paroled on September 23, 1996.In September 1998, his parole was revoked after he violated the terms of his community sexual offender treatment contract.Subsequently, the State moved to impose the defendant's suspended sentence.

At the hearing to impose the suspended sentence, the State argued that, while the trial court's order listed only one express condition, which the defendant did not violate, the suspended sentence was also subject to an implied condition of good behavior.On December 9, 1998, the trial court revoked the defendant's suspended sentence and imposed the balance of the minimum term of that sentence.This appeal followed.

On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in revoking his suspended sentence because he did not violate the express condition set forth in the sentencing order.He further contends that implicit sentencing conditions, such as good behavior, are not in accord with prior decisions of this court and that due process mandates that sentencing orders be clear and unambiguous.Finally, the defendant asserts that even if there is an implied sentencing condition of good behavior, he did not violate the condition because "good behavior" is defined as conduct conforming to the law and, here, there was no claim that the defendant violated the law.

We address the defendant's State constitutional claims first, referencing federal case law only as an analytical aid.SeeState v. Ball,124 N.H. 226, 232(1983).Because the Federal Constitution provides no greater protection than our State Constitution, we will not conduct a separate federal analysis.SeeKnowles v. Warden, N.H. State Prison,140 N.H. 387, 389(1995).

[1, 2] In Stapleford v. Perrin,122 N.H. 1083, 1087(1982), we set forth the principle that:

At the conclusion of the sentencing proceeding, a defendant and the society which brought him to court must know in plain and certain terms what punishment has been exacted by the court as well as the extent to which the court retained discretion to impose punishment at a later date and under what conditions the sentence may be modified.

In accordance with due process, "[t]he sentencing order must clearly communicate to the defendant the exact nature of [the] sentence."State v. Burgess,141 N.H. 51, 52(1996)(quotation omitted).We have recognized "that termination of freedom by revocation of a suspended sentence involves constitutional liberty interests" protected by the Due Process Clause.Brennan v. Cunningham,126 N.H. 600, 604(1985).Our inquiry therefore focuses on whether an implied condition of good behavior is constitutionally permissible under due process, and if so, whether the defendant violated that condition.

The State's argument relies upon earlier cases that appear to recognize an implied condition of good behavior in suspended sentences.SeeCouture v. Brown,82 N.H. 459, 461(1926);Stone v. Shea,113 N.H. 174, 176(1973).The defendant, however, relying upon State v. Ingerson,130 N.H. 112(1987), and other cases decided since Stapleford, argues that Couture and Stone are not controlling because we have subsequently expressed disapproval of implicit sentencing conditions.

At first glance, it would appear that any implied condition would violate due process since "an essential component of due process [is] that individuals be given fair warning of those acts which may lead to a loss of liberty."Grajczyk v. S.D. Bd. of Pardons,603 N.W.2d 508, 512(S.D.1999).As the State correctly points out, however, "the overwhelming weight of authority is that a fundamental condition of any suspended sentence or probation, whether expressly stated or not, is that the defendant shall not violate the law."State v. Holter,340 N.W.2d 691, 693(S.D.1983);see also, e.g., United States v. Dane,570 F.2d 840, 843-44(9th Cir.1977), cert. denied,436 U.S. 959(1978);United States v. Cardenas-Yanez,741 F. Supp. 212, 214(S.D. Fla.1990);State v. Hancock,727 P.2d 1263, 1266(Idaho App.1986);Wilcox v. State,395 So. 2d 1054, 1056(Ala.1981);Brooks v. State,484 P.2d 1333, 1334(Okl. Crim. App.1971).

[3] It would be illogical and unreasonable to conclude that a defendant, who has been granted conditional liberty, needs to be given an express warning that if he commits a crime, he will lose the privilege of that liberty."[A] condition of a suspended sentence that a person may not commit a [crime], is so basic and fundamental that any reasonable person would be aware of such condition."Brooks,484 P.2d at 1334.Accordingly, we hold that there is an implied condition of good behavior in suspended sentences and that this condition does not offend due process.

[4] When the deprivation of the defendant's conditional liberty rests upon the commission of a non-criminal act, however, he must be given some form of warning in order to ensure that he understands, "in plain and certain terms," the conditions of his sentence.Stapleford,122 N.H. at 1087."[D]ue process mandates [that he be given] actual notice" that such conduct could result in the revocation of his conditional liberty.Mace v. Amestoy,765 F. Supp. 847, 849(D. Vt.1991)(citation omitted);see alsoUnited States v. Gallo,20 F.3d 7, 12(1st Cir.1994).To hold otherwise would effectively modify the terms of the original sentencing order and result in fundamental unfairness.SeeState v. Rau,129 N.H. 126, 129(1987).

[5]We conclude, therefore, as do a majority of...