Marty Wayne Green v The State Of Oklahoma

RE-2018-30

Filed: Jun. 6, 2019

Not for publication

Prevailing Party: The State of Oklahoma

Summary

Marty Wayne Green appealed his conviction for Domestic Assault and Battery by Strangulation. His conviction and sentence were to seven years imprisonment, but all seven years were suspended under a plea agreement. Judge George W. Butner ended Green's participation in a mental health court program after he didn't comply with the program's rules and committed new crimes. Green argued he should receive credit for time served, but the court ruled he did not qualify for this since his case didn't fit into the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act. The court found that Green posed a danger during his time in the program and upheld the decision to terminate his participation. Kuehn, the vice presiding judge, agreed with the decision, so Green’s appeal was denied.

Decision

The termination of Appellant's participation in the Seminole County Anna McBride Court Program in Seminole County District Court Case No. CF-2015-225 is AFFIRMED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2019), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the filing of this decision.

Issues

• Was there an abuse of discretion in the trial court's denial of credit for time served?
• Did the arguments made in Proposition II challenge the validity of the termination order?
• Was the trial court's termination of Appellant's participation in the mental health court program an abuse of discretion?

Findings

• the court did not err regarding credit for time served
• the challenge to the termination order was not properly before the court
• the trial court did not abuse its discretion in terminating participation in the mental health court program

RE-2018-30

Jun. 6, 2019

Marty Wayne Green

Appellant

v

The State Of Oklahoma

Appellee

SUMMARY OPINION

JOHN D. HADDEN CLERK

KUEHN, VICE PRESIDING JUDGE:

On October 15, 2015, Appellant entered a plea of guilty to one count of Domestic Assault and Battery by Strangulation, in violation of 21 O.S.Supp.2014, § 644(J), in Seminole County District Court Case No. CF-2015-225. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with all seven years suspended. Appellant agreed to, and signed an Anna McBride Performance Contract and was admitted to the Seminole County Anna McBride Court Program.

On December 20, 2017, the State filed a 2nd Amended Motion to Revoke Suspended Sentence seeking to terminate Appellant’s participation in a mental health court program. The application alleges Appellant failed to attend group counseling sessions; tested positive for alcohol and illegal drugs; failed to comply with treatment programs; and committed the new crimes of Driving Under the Influence, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of Stolen Property in Rogers County. Following a December 29, 2017, hearing on the State’s application, the Honorable George W. Butner, District Judge, terminated Appellant’s participation in mental health court and sentenced Appellant to seven years imprisonment. Appellant appeals this termination.

In Proposition I, Appellant argues the trial court’s denial of credit for time served was an abuse of discretion and warrants relief. Relying on the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act, Appellant argues the trial court was required to grant him credit for time served. See 22 O.S.Supp.2018, §§ 988.19(I) and 988.20(A); 22 O.S.2011, § 988.21. Appellant was not sentenced pursuant to the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act and, as a result did not have a community sentence revoked in this case. Id. Therefore, the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act has no bearing in this case on the termination of Appellant’s participation in the Seminole County Anna McBride Court Program pursuant to 22 O.S.Supp.2014, § 972. Appellant has established no right to credit for time served in this case. As a result, this proposition is without merit.

As Proposition II does not challenge the validity of his termination order, Proposition II is not properly before this Court and must be denied. The scope of review of a mental health court termination proceeding is limited to the validity of the termination order. Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 13, 313 P.3d 274, 280. The arguments made by Appellant in Proposition II have no bearing on whether he violated his Anna McBride Performance Contract or whether his violation would justify the District Court ordering his participation in mental health court being terminated. This proposition is without merit.

In his third proposition of error Appellant argues this termination was an abuse of discretion because the trial court did not consider or attempt additional sanctions prior to termination. Appellant argues Judge Butner should have chosen a more just result by employing further sanctions. Appellant failed to comply with his mental health court plea agreement by repeatedly failing and refusing to follow and comply with mental health court rules and directives. The record establishes Appellant attended every available treatment facility in this state without success. While in mental health court Appellant was repeatedly violent while in treatment and committed new crimes while in the community. The decision to revoke or terminate from Mental Health Court lies within the discretion of the mental health court judge. Tate, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d at 282. It was within Judge Butner’s discretion to determine that instead of sanctions Appellant’s conduct requires revocation from the program.

Judge Butner found Appellant was a danger to himself and to others while in mental health court. Proposition III is without merit. An abuse of discretion is any unreasonable or arbitrary action taken without proper consideration of the facts and law pertaining to the matter at issue or a clearly erroneous conclusion and judgment, one that is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts presented. Tate, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d at 282-283. Appellant has not shown Judge Butner abused his discretion by terminating Appellant’s participation in mental health court and revoking his suspended sentence. Appellant has not established that this termination was clearly against the facts in this case.

DECISION

The termination of Appellant’s participation in the Seminole County Anna McBride Court Program in Seminole County District Court Case No. CF-2015-225 is AFFIRMED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2019), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the filing of this decision.

Click Here To Download PDF

Footnotes:

1. 21 O.S.Supp.2014, § 644(J)
2. 22 O.S.Supp.2018, §§ 988.19(I) and 988.20(A); 22 O.S.2011, § 988.21
3. 22 O.S.Supp.2014, § 972
4. Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 13, 313 P.3d 274, 280.
5. Tate U. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 21, 313 P.3d 274, 281.
6. Rule 1.2(D)(6), Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2019)
7. 22 O.S.Supp.2014, § 472(F)
8. 22 O.S.2011, § 471.7(E)
9. Tate, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d at 282.
10. Tate, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d at 282-283.

Oklahoma Statutes citations:

• Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 644(J) (2014) - Domestic Assault and Battery by Strangulation
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 988.19(I) (2018) - Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 988.20(A) (2018) - Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 988.21 (2011) - Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 972 (2014) - Mental Health Court Program
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 471.7(E) (2011) - Oklahoma Drug Court Act
• Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 472(F) (2014) - Mental Health Court Revocation

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:

• Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 13, 313 P.3d 274, 280
• Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 21, 313 P.3d 274, 281
• Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d 274, 282
• Tate v. State, 2013 OK CR 18, I 28, 313 P.3d 274, 282-283