Ward v. Williams ( 1998 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
MAR 5 1998
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
ROBERT ALLEN WARD,
Petitioner-Appellant,
v. No. 97-2041
(D.C. No. CIV-96-470-LH)
JOE WILLIAMS, Warden, and (D. N.M.)
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
Respondents-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRORBY, EBEL and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Robert Allen Ward, appearing pro se , appeals from an order of the United
States District Court for the District of New Mexico dismissing with prejudice his
petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 1
We review the
distirct court's dismissl of a habeas petition de novo . Bradshaw v. Story , 86 F.3d
164, 166 (10th Cir. 1996). We have concluded the sentencing issues raised in Mr.
Ward's petition cannot be decided on the basis of the existing appellate record. 2
Therefore, we vacate the decision of the district court and remand the case for an
evidentiary hearing to develop the record.
In a separate motion to the court, Mr. Ward has requested oral argument.
1
Mr. Ward's motion is denied.
2
The district court denied Mr. Ward's motion for a certificate of
appealability on March 24, 1997. This court subsequently held the certificate of
appealability requirement of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of
1996 applied only to § 2254 petitions filed in the district court after the April 24,
1996 effective date of the Act. See United States v. Kunzman, 125 F.3d 1363,
1364 n.2 (10th Cir. 1997). Since Mr. Ward's petition was filed in the district
court on April 9, 1996, no certificate of appealability is required. Therefore, we
construe Mr. Ward's appeal as a request for a certificate of probable cause. See
Hernandez v. Starbuck, 69 F.3d 1089, 1090 n.1 (10th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 116
S. Ct. 1855 (1996). A certificate of probable cause will be granted only if
petitioner makes "a substantial showing of the denial of an important federal right
by demonstrating that the issues raised are debatable among jurists, that a court
could resolve the issues differently, or that the questions deserve further
proceedings." Gallagher v. Hannigan, 24 F.3d 68, 68 (10th Cir. 1994). Having
reviewed the record in this case, we conclude Mr. Ward has made the required
substantial showing of the denial of a federal right, hence, we now issue a
certificate of probable cause.
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Background
From approximately November 1990 through February 1991, Mr. Ward
committed a variety of felonies under New Mexico state law. On September 13,
1991, the Eleventh Judicial District Court entered judgment and sentence in State
v. Ward , Nos. CR-91-103-1 (commercial burglary et. al. ), CR-91-326-1
(commercial burglary), CR-91-327-1 (residential burglary), CR-91-328-1
(receiving stolen property), CR-91-329-1 (escape from jail), CR-91-330-1 (auto
burglary), CR-91-331-1 (residential burglary), CR-91-198-3 (trafficking in
controlled substances). The aggregate sentence for each of the eight causes was
consecutive to the sentence for the preceding cause. 3
Two of the eight causes, CR-91-103-1 and CR-91-326-1, contained multiple
counts. Cause CR-91-103-1 covered eight counts. The sentencing order under
CR-91-103-1 sentenced Mr. Ward to eighteen months imprisonment on each
count, concurrent with the preceding count. Cause CR-91-326-1 covered three
counts of commercial burglary, and again provided for concurrent sentences on
those counts.
3
The sentences imposed in CR-91-103-1 and the other seven causes were
to run consecutive to the sentence previously imposed in cause number C-90-035-
1, a juvenile matter captioned In the Matter of Robert Ward, a Child, San Juan
County District Court, Division I.
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According to the handwritten notation of the sentencing judge, the court
was under the impression the "gross effect" of the sentence was 36 years, 364
days imprisonment, the exposure created if all terms on all counts within the same
cause number ran consecutively . However, by its terms, the sentencing order
provided for a maximum exposure of 22.5 years, 364 days. (No periods of parole
were specified in either the text of the first sentencing order or the judge's
handwritten notations.) This discrepancy was not immediately noticed,
presumably because Mr. Ward's term of imprisonment was suspended in favor of
five years probation.
While on probation, Mr. Ward again found himself in some criminal
difficulties. On December 14, 1992, the state district court entered judgment and
sentence on two counts in State v. Ward , No. CR-92-484-1. On count 1,
distribution of marijuana to a minor, Mr. Ward was sentenced to three years
imprisonment, enhanced by 1 year pursuant to a finding that he was an habitual
offender, for a total of four years. The term of imprisonment was to be followed
by 1 year of parole.
On what was designated count 3, felon in possession of a firearm, Mr.
Ward was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, followed by one year on
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parole. The sentencing order failed to specify whether the sentence on count 3
was concurrent with or consecutive to the sentence for count 1. The order did
provide that the sentence imposed under CR-92-484-1 was to be served prior to
the sentence in "cause number CR-91-103-1 et. al."
In the second part of its December 1992 order, the state district court
revoked Mr. Ward's probation. In so doing, the court sentenced Mr. Ward to
twelve years of imprisonment followed by two years of parole. The order
specified "the sentence imposed herein as to cause number CR-91-103-1 shall be
served consecutively to the sentence imposed as to cause number CR-92-484-1."
The court further ordered "the sentences imposed in CR-91-326-1, CR-91-327-1,
CR-91-328-1, CR-91-329-1, CR 91-330-1, CR-91-331-1, and CR-91-198-3 ...
shall remain the same."
The December 1992 sentencing order did not state explicitly the cumulative
sentence the court intended Mr. Ward to serve.
On June 8, 1994, Mr. Ward ostensibly submitted a pro se petition for a writ
of habeas corpus to the state district court, seeking to correct alleged sentencing
errors. The status and disposition of this petition is unclear from the available
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record.
On June 27, 1995, Mr. Ward filed a second pro se habeas petition with the
state district court requesting that his sentence be corrected. In this petition, Mr.
Ward pointed out that the state district court order revoking his probation had
imposed a twelve-year term of imprisonment under CR-91-103-1, but the
maximum term available under that cause number was eighteen months. He
further indicated the terms imposed under CR-92-484-1 should run concurrently
since the sentencing order did not specify the sentences should run consecutively.
On September 8, 1995, Mr. Ward filed a pro se petition for a writ of
mandamus to the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking to compel the state district
court to rule on his habeas petition.
On October 13, 1995, the sentencing court filed a minute entry explaining
that there had been a sentencing error due to "the sheer volume of [Mr. Ward's]
criminal activity," but everyone, including Mr. Ward and his attorneys, knew the
intended term of imprisonment was twelve years and there was ample exposure in
the September 1991 sentencing order to support the intended sentence.
Contemporaneously, the court filed a corrected judgment and sentence order.
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The corrected judgment and sentence order made no changes as to CR-92-
484-1. Mr. Ward's concern as to whether the sentences on counts 1 and 3 were
concurrent was not addressed. By way of correction, the October 1995 order
drew the twelve-year term of imprisonment imposed following revocation of Mr.
Ward's probation from seven of the eight causes addressed by the September 1991
order. The state district court then proceeded to sentence Mr. Ward to two years
parole pursuant to his sentence under CR 91-331-1. However, the original
September 1991 sentencing order for CR-91-331-1 did not specify a parole
period, nor did any of the other causes covered by the written order.
After entering the corrective order, the state district court denied Mr.
Ward's habeas petition. Mr. Ward's appeal to the state court of appeals was
dismissed and his petition for writ of certiorari to the New Mexico Supreme Court
was denied.
Having exhausted available state remedies, Mr. Ward filed a habeas
petition with the United States District Court. Mr. Ward asserted three grounds
for relief. First, he alleged his concurrent sentences for the multiple counts under
CS-91-103-1 were changed illegally into consecutive sentences after his sentence
had begun. Second, he alleged his sentences as to counts 1 and 3 of CR-92-484-1
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must be presumed to be concurrent since the sentences were not designated
consecutive in the December 1992 sentencing order. Finally, he alleged his
parole period under CR-91-103-1 had been impermissibly extended from one year
to two.
After considering the record, but apparently without an evidentiary hearing,
the magistrate judge concluded Mr. Ward's sentences were within the legislatively
prescribed limits for the charged offenses, and that Mr. Ward had shown no
procedural problems in light of the state district court's explanation of the
sentencing error and its correction. The federal district court adopted the
magistrate judge's rather sparse findings and recommendation, over Mr. Ward's
objections, and dismissed the habeas petition with prejudice.
Discussion
In a somewhat confusing brief to this court, Mr. Ward appears to assert five
issues. First, Mr. Ward claims the state district court impermissibly increased his
sentence when it corrected his sentence. Second, he argues the sentences on the
two counts under CR-92-484-1 should be presumed to run concurrently. Third,
Mr. Ward claims the state district court impermissibly imposed a two-year parole
period pursuant to CR-91-103-1. Fourth, he now contends the habitual offender
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enhancement and the felon in possession charge under CR-92-484-1
impermissibly double count his prior felony. Finally, he alleges the state district
court impermissibly imposed an additional five-year probation period when it
corrected his sentence.
Mr. Ward's petition appears facially to raise a claim under the Double
Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution. See U.S. Const. amend. V.
While the federal district court appears to have found Mr. Ward's sentences have
not been impermissibly lengthened, we are unsure of the record source of this
finding. Given our uncertainty, we decline to resolve this case on the merits at
this stage. We would prefer that the federal district court conduct an evidentiary
hearing to determine the exact parameters of the sentences imposed by the state
district court. 4
Accordingly, we VACATE the judgment of the district court and
REMAND for further proceedings. 5
4
The record indicates Mr. Ward's sentencing hearings were tape recorded.
5
In view of this decision, Mr. Ward's motion for a hearing before this
court is denied.
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Entered for the Court
WADE BRORBY
United States Circuit Judge
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