Thomas v. State, 24357
Decision Date | 11 December 1995 |
Docket Number | No. 24357,24357 |
Citation | 465 S.E.2d 350,319 S.C. 471 |
Parties | Leon E. THOMAS, Respondent, v. The STATE, Petitioner. |
Court | South Carolina Supreme Court |
Senior Assistant Appellate Defender Wanda H. Haile, of S.C. Office of Appellate Defense, Columbia, for respondent.
The State petitioned for writ of certiorari to review the grant of respondent's application for post-conviction relief (PCR). We reverse.
Respondent was convicted of trafficking in marijuana and sentenced as a third-time offender to twenty-five years. His direct appeal was dismissed. Respondent filed an application for PCR on the ground his sentence exceeded the maximum allowed by law. The PCR judge granted respondent a resentencing hearing.
Did the PCR judge err in holding respondent was incorrectly sentenced as a third-time offender?
Respondent was sentenced as a third-time offender under S.C.Code Ann. § 44-53-370(e)(1)(Supp.1994). Respondent has prior convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana. The State contends the PCR judge erred in finding the trial judge had improperly interpreted the term "subsequent or second offense." S.C.Code Ann. § 44-53-470 (1985) defines "second or subsequent offense" as when an offender "has at any time been convicted under this article or under any State or Federal statute relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenic drugs." (emphasis added).
Respondent argues the references to second or subsequent offenses in § 44-53-370(e)(1) refer only to convictions of trafficking in marijuana, not other drug offenses. Relying on Rainey v. State, 307 S.C. 150, 414 S.E.2d 131 (1992), respondent contends the definition set out in § 44-53-470 does not apply to § 44-53-370(e). In Rainey, the defendant was convicted under the former crack cocaine statute, S.C.Code Ann. § 44-53-375. His prior offense was for marijuana. Under former § 44-53-375(B), the prior offense had to be related to narcotic drugs. 1 However, under the definition set out in § 44-53-470, a prior offense is any drug offense. Finding a conflict between § 44-53-470 and § 44-53-375(B) and applying the rule that the more recent legislation supersedes prior law, the Court held the defendant should not have been sentenced as a second offender. Here, §§ 44-53-370(e)(1) and 44-53-470 are not in conflict. Since there is no conflict, Rainey does not apply.
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