Lloyd Samuel Heath, Jr. v The State Of Oklahoma
RE-2001-749
Filed: Jun. 3, 2002
Not for publication
Prevailing Party: Lloyd Samuel Heath, Jr.
Summary
LLOYD SAMUEL HEATH, JR. appealed his conviction for revocation of his suspended sentence. Conviction and sentence reversed. CHARLES S. CHAPEL dissented. In this case, Lloyd Samuel Heath, Jr. had previously pled guilty to two crimes in 1993 and was given a suspended sentence, meaning he wouldn’t go to prison if he followed the rules. However, he was charged with a new crime in 1993 that violated the terms of his suspended sentence. The state waited a long time, almost six years, to have a hearing about revoking his suspended sentence. Heath argued it was unfair because the state took too long to act, and the court agreed with him. The Court of Criminal Appeals decided to reverse the revocation of his suspended sentence, and they told the lower court to dismiss the case.
Decision
IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER OF THIS COURT, the order of the Oklahoma County District Court revoking Appellant's suspended sentence in Case No. CF-93-2122 is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED to the District Court with instructions to DISMISS. IT IS so ORDERED. WITNESS OUR HANDS AND THE SEAL OF THIS COURT this 3rd day of June, 2002.
Issues
- Was there a timely prosecution of the application's revocation of appellant's suspended sentences?
- Did the State demonstrate due diligence in pursuing the application to revoke?
- Was the delay of almost six years between the filing of the application and the hearing sufficient to constitute abandonment of the application?
- Did the trial court err in revoking the suspended sentences based on the delays and lack of action by the State?
Findings
- the court erred
- the State failed to prosecute its application to revoke in a timely manner
- the application to revoke was effectively abandoned
- the order revoking Appellant's suspended sentence is reversed
- the matter is remanded to the District Court with instructions to dismiss
RE-2001-749
Jun. 3, 2002
Lloyd Samuel Heath, Jr.
Appellantv
The State Of Oklahoma
Appellee
v
The State Of Oklahoma
Appellee
SUMMARY OPINION
On April 28, 1993, Appellant entered a plea of guilty in Oklahoma County District Court, Case No. CF-93-2122, to Second Degree Burglary, Count I, and Concealing Stolen Property, Count II. Appellant was sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment on both counts, all suspended and ordered to run concurrently. On December 25, 1993, Appellant was charged in Custer County District Court, Case No. CF-93-191 with Burglary in the Second Degree and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections. This new crime constituted a violation of the terms and conditions of Appellant’s suspended sentences in Case No. CF-93-2122. Accordingly, on February 16, 1994, the State filed an Application to Revoke Appellant’s suspended sentences and an alias warrant was issued that same day. Appellant was released from the custody of the Department of Corrections on August 6, 1999, and was subsequently arrested on the outstanding alias warrant. On September 3, 1999, Appellant pled not guilty to the Application to Revoke. On April 20, 2000, a revocation hearing was commenced before the Honorable Ray C. Elliott, District Judge. At the hearing, the court determined Appellant had violated the terms and conditions of his probation and ordered Appellant’s two, three-year sentences be revoked in full in Case No. CF-93-2122. It is from that order that Appellant appeals.
Appellant raises one proposition of error on appeal. Appellant claims the order revoking his suspended sentences should be reversed because the State failed to prosecute its application to revoke in a timely manner. Specifically, Appellant points out that the State filed its application on February 16, 1994. Thereafter, he entered a plea of not guilty on September 3, 1999. Yet, it was not until April 20, 2000, that the hearing on the application was held. Appellant cites 22 O.S.1991, § 991b for authority that a court may revoke a suspended sentence only if competent evidence justifying the revocation of the suspended sentence is presented to the court at a hearing to be held for that purpose within twenty days after the entry of the plea of not guilty to the petition. In the case at bar, Appellant argues that while he did plead guilty to the petition within twenty days of the initially scheduled hearing, that hearing was continued several times and the trial court did not actually hold the hearing to revoke until almost six years after the application to revoke was filed. Appellant also relies on Cheadle U. State, 1988 OK CR 226, 762 P.2d 995, wherein this Court vacated the revocation of a defendant’s suspended sentence, after finding the State had waited almost five years between issuance of an alias warrant on the application to revoke and service of the warrant, even though the State knew the defendant’s whereabouts the entire time. This Court found the State had effectively abandoned its application to revoke by failing to act with due diligence. The State has filed a Response Brief in this case in which it concedes error.
IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER OF THIS COURT, the order of the Oklahoma County District Court revoking Appellant’s suspended sentence in Case No. CF-93-2122 is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED to the District Court with instructions to DISMISS. IT IS so ORDERED.
WITNESS OUR HANDS AND THE SEAL OF THIS COURT this 3rd day of June, 2002.
GARY L. LUMPKIN, Presiding Judge
CHARLES A. JOHNSON, Vice Presiding Judge
CHARLES S. CHAPEL, Judge
RETA M. STRUBHAR, Judge
STEVE LILE, Judge
ATTEST:
Clerk
Footnotes:
- 22 O.S.1991, § 991b
- Cheadle U. State, 1988 OK CR 226, 762 P.2d 995
Oklahoma Statutes citations:
- Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 991b - Revocation of suspended sentence
Oklahoma Administrative Rules citations:
No Oklahoma administrative rules found.
U.S. Code citations:
No US Code citations found.
Other citations:
No other rule citations found.
Case citations:
- Cheadle v. State, 1988 OK CR 226, 762 P.2d 995