Jessie Lee Green v. Commonwealth of Virginia ( 2022 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
PUBLISHED
Present: Judges Beales, AtLee and Chaney
Argued at Norfolk, Virginia
JESSIE LEE GREEN
OPINION BY
v. Record No. 0759-21-1 JUDGE RANDOLPH A. BEALES
JUNE 14, 2022
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Jeffrey W. Shaw, Judge
(Sydney H. Speight, on brief), for appellant. Appellant submitting
on brief.
Virginia B. Theisen, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Jason S.
Miyares, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Jessie Lee Green appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Gloucester County revoking his
suspended sentences for assault and battery on a law enforcement officer and petit larceny. His
lone assignment of error on appeal is that the circuit court “erred in sentencing the Defendant to
a time period of incarceration not prescribed by [Code §] 19.2-306.1, thus abusing its discretion
in this case and making a mistake of law.”
I. BACKGROUND
A. Green’s Prior Convictions and Suspended Sentences
In August 2018, Green was convicted of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer,
a felony under Code § 18.2-57(C). In December 2018, he was sentenced to three years of
incarceration. Six months of that sentence constituted a mandatory minimum. Aside from
imposing the six-month mandatory minimum as an active sentence to be served, the trial court
suspended the remaining two years and six months of Green’s sentence for a period of five years.
The suspension was conditioned on Green’s compliance with several specific terms set forth by
the trial court. In relevant part, the trial court placed Green on supervised probation for five
years following his release from incarceration.
In 2019, while Green was on probation, he was arrested and charged with larceny. He
pled guilty to petit larceny in September 2019. By order entered on October 1, 2019, Green was
convicted and sentenced to twelve months of incarceration for the petit larceny. The trial court
suspended nine months of that sentence for a period of five years. Once again, the trial court
expressly conditioned the suspension, in part, on Green’s compliance with supervised probation
for five years following his release from confinement.
As a result of Green’s petit larceny conviction, the Circuit Court of Gloucester County
revoked the suspended sentence of two years and six months remaining for Green’s felony
assault conviction. The circuit court ordered Green to serve one year of that sentence and
re-suspended the remaining one year and six months. The circuit court again placed Green on
supervised probation following his release from incarceration. Green was released in 2020.
Upon his release from incarceration in 2020, Green remained subject to a suspended
sentence of one year and six months for the felony assault conviction and a suspended sentence
of nine months for the petit larceny conviction. Both suspensions were expressly conditioned on
Green’s successful completion of supervised probation.
B. Revocation Proceedings Beginning in April 2021
On April 1, 2021, Probation and Parole Officer Daylin Paulino prepared a major violation
report documenting multiple probation violations that Green committed while on probation for
his felony assault conviction. The report stated that Green had tested positive for amphetamines,
oxycodone, and methamphetamine on separate occasions during the period of his supervised
probation. Green’s probation officer further reported, “Mr. Green has used illegal substances
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throughout his supervision and has continued his use while in treatment,” and “[h]e has failed to
maintain contact with this officer and has missed several appointments.” The major violation
report cited violations of Condition 6 (“I will follow the Probation and Parole Officer’s
instructions and will be truthful, cooperative, and report as instructed.”) and Condition 8 (“I will
not unlawfully use, possess or distribute controlled substances or related paraphernalia.”).
Green’s probation officer filed the major violation report in the circuit court the next day—April
2, 2021. Consequently, a capias was issued for Green’s arrest on April 7, 2021.
In addition, on April 26, 2021, a different probation officer reported Green’s
non-compliance with the terms of his probation on the petit larceny conviction. The letter cited
Green for numerous violations, including (1) failure to maintain contact with his probation
officer, (2) failure to complete substance abuse treatment, and (3) failure to remain drug free.
Therefore, the circuit court issued a second capias for Green’s arrest on May 4, 2021.
Green was arrested and taken into custody on June 1, 2021. The circuit court ordered that
Green remain incarcerated pending a hearing to show cause why his suspended sentences should
not be revoked for the violations documented by his probation officers.
On June 21, 2021, Green appeared for his revocation hearing. At the outset of the
revocation hearing, the circuit court judge asked, “[I]s the defendant ready to proceed?” Counsel
for Green replied, “Judge, we are not” and advised the court that the defense was requesting a
continuance. Consequently, at the request of Green’s counsel, the circuit court granted a
continuance for the defense. In granting the continuance, the order stated, “This case came
before the Court for the defendant to answer Capiases to Show Cause” and further stated that the
hearing would be continued until July 13, 2021.
In 2021, the General Assembly amended Code § 19.2-306. The amendments became
effective on July 1, 2021. That statute now limits the period of active incarceration that a circuit
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court can impose after revoking a probationer’s suspended sentence. See 2021 Va. Acts Sp.
Sess. I c. 538, Sp. Sess. I. Subsection (C) of Code § 19.2-306 now provides that the circuit court
may “impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-306.1.” Id. In turn, Code
§ 19.2-306.1 contains specific limitations on sentencing that apply when a circuit court bases its
revocation of a suspended sentence on what the statute refers to as certain “technical violations”
enumerated in the statute. See id.
When the parties returned to court on July 13, 2021, the attorney for the Commonwealth
explained that two different sets of revocation sentencing guidelines had been prepared for the
circuit court’s consideration. The guidelines that were prepared according to the law in effect
before July 1 recommended an active sentence ranging from one year to one year and six
months. The guidelines that were prepared according to the law in effect after July 1 contained a
range of “up to 14 days.”
The Commonwealth urged the circuit court to sentence Green according to the law that
was effective at the time Green was placed on probation. The Commonwealth took the position
that “the first set of guidelines apply because he was put on probation long before July 1st when
the changes in the guidelines came into effect, so he should be under the old system.” Counsel
for Green countered that the second set of guidelines should apply and that Green’s sentence
should not exceed fourteen days because the revocation hearing took place after July 1.1
The circuit court, relying on this Court’s decision in Taylor v. Commonwealth, 44
Va. App. 179 (2004), noted that “when a statute is amended while an action is pending, the rights
of the parties are to be deemed in accordance with the law in effect when the action is begun,
1
Although the parties described their arguments to the circuit court as a dispute over the
sentencing guidelines—the application of which is discretionary and not reviewable on appeal
according to Code § 19.2-298.01(F)—the record makes clear that the circuit court had actually
adjudicated the underlying issue of whether the July 1, 2021 statutory amendments governed the
sentencing decision during Green’s revocation hearing.
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unless the amended statute shows a clear intention to vary such rights.” The circuit court judge
further stated that the result “would be dictated by Virginia Code Section 1-239[.]” The circuit
court concluded that it needed to apply “the law in effect at the time the probation violation was
instituted,” which was the law in effect before July 1, 2021. Upon finding that Green had
violated his probation on both convictions, the circuit court revoked his suspended sentences
without re-suspending any of the one year and six months remaining on the assault conviction or
any of the nine months remaining on the petit larceny conviction. The circuit court ordered the
sentences to run concurrently, for an active sentence of one year and six months. This appeal
followed.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review
On appeal, “[w]e ‘view the evidence received at [a] revocation hearing in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, as the prevailing party, including all reasonable and legitimate
inferences that may properly be drawn from it.’” Johnson v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 266, 274
(2018) (second alteration in original) (quoting Henderson v. Commonwealth, 285 Va. 318, 329
(2013)). “In revocation appeals, the trial court’s ‘findings of fact and judgment will not be
reversed unless there is a clear showing of abuse of discretion.’” Jacobs v. Commonwealth, 61
Va. App. 529, 535 (2013) (quoting Davis v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 81, 86 (1991)).
However, “[u]nder well-established principles, an issue of statutory interpretation is a pure
question of law which we review de novo.” Conyers v. Martial Arts World of Richmond, Inc.,
273 Va. 96, 104 (2007). Specifically, “the issue of whether a statute should be applied
retroactively presents a question of law that we review de novo on appeal.” Taylor v.
Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 179, 184 (2004).
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B. The Law Governing Revocation and the Legislation Effective July 1, 2021
“When coupled with a suspended sentence, probation represents ‘an act of grace on the
part of the Commonwealth to one who has been convicted and sentenced to a term of
confinement.’” Price v. Commonwealth, 51 Va. App. 443, 448 (2008) (quoting Pierce v.
Commonwealth, 48 Va. App. 660, 667 (2006)); see also Rease v. Commonwealth, 227 Va. 289,
295 (1984) (noting that when a probationer absconds from supervision, “the act of grace in
granting probation in the first place is rendered a nullity”). “In the absence of a clear statutory or
constitutional violation, we defer to the discretion of the circuit court regarding the decision of
whether any act of grace is appropriate in the first instance[.]” Garibaldi v. Commonwealth, 71
Va. App. 64, 69 (2019). “Of course, the alternative to probation is incarceration[.]” Id. As the
Supreme Court has stated, “When a trial judge suspends a sentence, however, he does not make a
contract with the accused, but only extends to him the opportunity which the state affords him to
repent and reform.” Richardson v. Commonwealth, 131 Va. 802, 810 (1921). “It is the free gift
of the commonwealth, and not a contract to relieve him from the punishment which fits his
crime.” Id. Accordingly, the Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that “[p]robation
statutes are highly remedial and should be liberally construed to provide trial courts a valuable
tool for rehabilitation of criminals.” Burnham v. Commonwealth, 298 Va. 109, 116 (2019)
(emphasis added) (quoting Grant v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 680, 684 (1982)); accord Peyton v.
Commonwealth, 268 Va. 503, 508 (2004); Dyke v. Commonwealth, 193 Va. 478, 484 (1952);
Richardson, 131 Va. at 811.
Code § 19.2-306(A) provides the statutory authority for a circuit court to revoke a
suspended sentence. That statute states, “In any case in which the court has suspended the
execution or imposition of sentence, the court may revoke the suspension of sentence for any
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cause the court deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the probation period, or within
the period of suspension fixed by the court.” Code § 19.2-306(A).
Prior to July 1, 2021, Code § 19.2-306(C) provided,
If the court, after hearing, finds good cause to believe that the
defendant has violated the terms of suspension, then: (i) if the court
originally suspended the imposition of sentence, the court shall
revoke the suspension, and the court may pronounce whatever
sentence might have been originally imposed or (ii) if the court
originally suspended the execution of the sentence, the court shall
revoke the suspension and the original sentence shall be in full
force and effect.
2021 Va. Acts Sp. Sess. I c. 538. Effective July 1, 2021, Code § 19.2-306(C) was “amended and
reenacted” to provide that “[i]f the court, after hearing, finds good cause to believe that the
defendant has violated the terms of suspension, then the court may revoke the suspension and
impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-306.1.” Id. The newly enacted
Code § 19.2-306.1 limits the period of active incarceration that a circuit court can impose for
what the statute refers to as certain “technical violations” enumerated under the new statute. Id.
As pertinent to the matter now before us, Code § 19.2-306.1 provides that “‘technical violation’
means a violation based on the probationer’s failure to . . . (v) follow the instructions of the
probation officer, be truthful and cooperative, and report as instructed . . . [or] (vii) refrain from
the use, possession, or distribution of controlled substances or related paraphernalia[.]” Id.
C. The Circuit Court Did Not Err in Applying the Law in Effect When Green
Committed the Relevant Violations and When His Revocation Proceeding Began
Green assigns error to the circuit court’s ruling as follows: “The [circuit] court erred in
sentencing the Defendant to a time period of incarceration not prescribed by [Code
§] 19.2-306.1, thus abusing its discretion in this case and making a mistake of law.” He
specifically argues that “[i]n sentencing the Defendant to his full term of suspended time, the
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[circuit] Court erred by failing to stay within the range of punishment allotted by 19.2-306.1 and
therefore abused its discretion.”
Green was initially placed on probation in 2018 for a period of five years. Green’s
probation officer filed the major violation report documenting Green’s numerous probation
violations with the Circuit Court of Gloucester County on April 2, 2021. Based on these
violations, the circuit court issued a capias for Green’s arrest on April 7 and then issued a second
capias for his arrest on May 4, 2021. Green was taken into custody when the capiases were
executed on June 1. When the parties “came before the Court for the defendant to answer
Capiases to Show Cause” at Green’s scheduled revocation hearing on June 21, 2021, Green’s
counsel requested and ultimately obtained a continuance on behalf of the defense. Under these
circumstances, the record shows that the judicial proceedings related to the revocation of Green’s
suspended sentences began before the statutory amendments took effect on July 1, 2021. See,
e.g., Abdo v. Commonwealth, 218 Va. 473, 478 (1977) (“There is authority that the word
‘proceedings’ includes each and every step from the issue of a criminal complaint to the
conclusion of the case, and that the word is broad enough to cover any act, measure, step or all
steps in a course taken in conducting litigation, civil or criminal.”); Sigmon v. Commonwealth,
200 Va. 258, 267 (1958) (noting that several authorities “define ‘proceeding’ as broad enough to
cover any act, measure, step or all steps in a course taken in conducting litigation, civil or
criminal”).
In this matter, therefore, as the Supreme Court has stated numerous times, “Our analysis
is guided by the fundamental principles of statutory construction that retroactive laws are not
favored, and that a statute is always construed to operate prospectively unless a contrary
legislative intent is manifest.” Berner v. Mills, 265 Va. 408, 413 (2003); see also City of
Charlottesville v. Payne, 299 Va. 515, 530 (2021) (“Unless a contrary intent is manifest beyond
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reasonable question on the face of an enactment, a statute is construed to operate prospectively
only.” (emphasis added)); Bailey v. Spangler, 289 Va. 353, 359 (2015) (“Absent an express
manifestation of intent by the legislature, this Court will not infer the intent that a statute is to be
applied retroactively.”); Washington v. Commonwealth, 216 Va. 185, 193 (1975) (“The general
rule is that statutes are prospective in the absence of an express provision by the legislature.”).
In Washington, the Supreme Court held, “[W]hen a statute is amended while an action is
pending, the rights of the parties are to be decided in accordance with the law in effect when the
action was begun, unless the amended statute shows a clear intention to vary such rights.”
Washington, 216 Va. at 193. Nothing in the text of the amendments to Code § 19.2-306 or in
Code § 19.2-306.1 shows a clear legislative intent for the amended statutory scheme governing
revocation proceedings to apply to revocation proceedings that began prior to July 1, 2021.
Therefore, because the plain language of Code § 19.2-306 and Code § 19.2-306.1 lacks any
indication of retroactive intent on the part of the General Assembly, “the rights of the parties are
to be decided in accordance with the law in effect when the action was begun[.]” See
Washington, 216 Va. at 193.2
2
The dissent reaches a different conclusion based on its reasoning that “the unambiguous
plain meaning of the phrases ‘a first technical violation,’ ‘any second technical violation,’ and ‘a
suspended sentence’ encompasses all such probation violations and all suspended sentences—
whether or not they occurred or began before Code § 19.2-306.1 became effective on July 1,
2021.”
The statutory language cited by the dissent refers to the type of violation at issue—i.e.,
whether the violation is a technical violation or a non-technical violation under the statute. Read
in the full context of Code § 19.2-306.1(C), the words “a” and “any” simply do not manifest the
broad legislative intent the dissent suggests they do. The General Assembly’s reference to “a
first technical violation,” “any second technical violation,” and “a suspended sentence” in Code
§ 19.2-306.1 does not “show[] a clear intention” to apply the statute retroactively, see
Washington, 216 Va. at 193, nor does it constitute an “express manifestation of intent by the
legislature” to apply the statute retroactively, see Bailey, 289 Va. at 359. Given the Supreme
Court’s instruction that courts will construe a statute to operate prospectively “[u]nless a contrary
intent is manifest beyond reasonable question on the face of an enactment,” Payne, 299 Va. at
530, it would come as a surprise to many members of the legislature to learn that they expressed
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Furthermore, according to Code § 1-238:
“Reenacted,” when used in the title or enactment of a bill or act of
the General Assembly, means that the changes enacted to a section
of the Code of Virginia or an act of the General Assembly are in
addition to the existing substantive provisions in that section or act,
and are effective prospectively unless the bill expressly provides
that such changes are effective retroactively on a specified date.
(Emphasis added). “Based on this provision, a ‘reenacted’ statute will be applied retroactively
only if the bill or act of assembly containing the legislation explicitly and unequivocally meets
the requirements of Code § 1-13.39:3”—now Code § 1-238. Berner, 265 Va. at 413(interpreting a predecessor statute to Code § 1-238).3 If a reenacted statute does not “contain an
express provision that the statutory changes would be effective retroactively on a specified date,”
the Supreme Court has held that “[t]he absence of this required language from the bill compels a
conclusion that the amendments to those sections are effective prospectively, not retroactively.”
Id. at 413-14; accord Taylor, 44 Va. App. at 186-87.
The General Assembly specifically stated “[t]hat §§ 19.2-303, 19.2-303.1, and 19.2-306
of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by
adding a section numbered 19.2-306.1[.]” 2021 Va. Acts Sp. Sess. I c. 538 (emphasis added).
Thus, according to Code § 1-238 and according to binding Supreme Court case law, the
retroactive intent simply by using the words “a first technical violation,” “any second technical
violation,” and “a suspended sentence” in Code § 19.2-306.1(C).
3
Former Code § 1-13.39:3 provided:
Whenever the word “reenacted” is used in the title or enactment of
a bill or act of assembly, it shall mean that the changes enacted to a
section of the Code of Virginia or an act of assembly are in
addition to the existing substantive provisions in that section or act,
and are effective prospectively unless the bill expressly provides
that such changes are effective retroactively on a specified date.
Berner, 265 Va. at 413 (second emphasis added).
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amendment and reenactment of Code § 19.2-306 during the pendency of Green’s revocation
proceeding compels us to look solely to the express language of the amendment in determining
whether to apply it retroactively. See Berner, 265 Va. at 413. The amended version of Code
§ 19.2-306 certainly does not “contain an express provision that the statutory changes would be
effective retroactively on a specified date,” and “[t]he absence of this required language from the
bill compels a conclusion that the amendments to those sections are effective prospectively, not
retroactively.” See id. at 413-14. To hold otherwise “would require this Court to add language
to the statute the General Assembly has not seen fit to include, an exercise in which the Court is
not free to engage.” Holsapple v. Commonwealth, 266 Va. 593, 599 (2003); see also
Doulgerakis v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 417, 419 (2013) (noting that “we determine the
legislative intent from the words used in the statute”). In other words, the General Assembly
easily could have stated that the amended statute could have been effective retroactively and
before the normal July 1, 2021 date for newly enacted legislation to become effective, but it did
not. The words “retroactive” or “retroactively” are nowhere to be found in the statute. The
General Assembly could have explicitly stated that the amended statute applies to revocation
proceedings commenced prior to that date, but it did not do so. See Payne, 299 Va. at 531
(“[T]he General Assembly knows how to make its intent manifest that a statute has retroactive
application.”).
In addition, the circuit court expressly relied on Code § 1-239 in rendering its decision in
this case. Code § 1-239 provides:
No new act of the General Assembly shall be construed to repeal a
former law, as to any offense committed against the former law, or
as to any act done, any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred,
or any right accrued, or claim arising under the former law, or in
any way whatever to affect any such offense or act so committed
or done, or any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment so incurred, or
any right accrued, or claim arising before the new act of the
General Assembly takes effect; except that the proceedings
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thereafter held shall conform, so far as practicable, to the laws in
force at the time of such proceedings; and if any penalty, forfeiture,
or punishment be mitigated by any provision of the new act of the
General Assembly, such provision may, with the consent of the
party affected, be applied to any judgment pronounced after the
new act of the General Assembly takes effect.
(Emphases added). The Supreme Court interpreted and applied the predecessor statute to
Code § 1-239 in an analogous case, Ruplenas v. Commonwealth, 221 Va. 972 (1981).
In Ruplenas, three defendants were convicted of marijuana distribution offenses. 221 Va.
at 974. The lone issue presented in all three appeals was “whether the penalties provided by
Code [§] 18.2-248.1 must be applied to offenses occurring prior to the effective date of the
statute (July 1, 1979), when trial and sentencing occurred after the effective date.” Id. Because
the statute did not expressly state that it would apply to offenses committed before its effective
date, the Supreme Court held that its “guiding rule of construction is set forth in Code
[§] 1-16”—the predecessor statute to Code § 1-239. Id. at 975. The Supreme Court said that
“before [the] new penalty may be imposed the Commonwealth must first elect to proceed under
the new law and then the defendant, as the party affected, must consent to its application.
Without the concurrence of both parties the previous penalty must apply.” Id. at 977. The
Supreme Court ruled, “We hold that the penalty in existence at the time of the offense should be
applied unless the Commonwealth first elects to proceed under the new statute and obtains the
consent of the defendant to do so.” Id. at 978.
Applying these principles to the case at bar, we hold that the circuit court did not err in
applying the penalty in existence at the time Green violated the terms of his probation and when
his revocation proceeding began.4 See id. at 977. The Commonwealth objected to the
4
This case does not require the Court to distinguish between the penalty in existence at
the time Green violated his probation and the penalty in existence when his revocation
proceeding began. The law was actually the same at the time of both events in this case now
before us. Regardless of whether the triggering event is the probation violation itself or the
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application of Code § 19.2-306.1, and the absence of an agreement between the parties to
proceed under the new statute forecloses the possibility of applying that statute in mitigation of
Green’s punishment. See Code § 1-239; Ruplenas, 221 Va. at 978 (“Without the concurrence of
both parties the previous penalty must apply.”).
Moreover, the circumstances of this case echo the serious practical concerns expressed by
the Supreme Court in Ruplenas that “[a] contrary rule might encourage dilatory tactics and
procrastination which would hamper the judicial process” and that “two or more offenses
occurring at the same time could conceivably receive different penalties depending upon
fortuitous circumstances as to when the cases come to trial.” Ruplenas, 221 Va. at 978. In this
case, the parties originally appeared in court for Green’s revocation hearing on June 21, 2021.
At the request of Green’s counsel, the circuit court granted a continuance to allow defense
counsel additional time to prepare and continued the hearing to July 13, 2021. The requirement
that both parties consent to proceed under the new law is necessary to preclude the kind of
gamesmanship that would be incentivized by allowing a brief continuance to effectively change
the entire outcome of Green’s revocation proceeding.5
instituting of revocation proceedings in circuit court, the result in this particular case would be
the same under either scenario. Judicial restraint dictates that we do not need to reach the
question of which is the actual triggering event date because each of these dates occurs before
July 1, 2021. Therefore, we refrain from weighing in on that particular question given that the
answer would have been the same result in this case and would have no effect on our analysis.
As the Supreme Court has often stated, “[T]he doctrine of judicial restraint dictates that we
decide cases ‘on the best and narrowest grounds available.’” Butcher v. Commonwealth, 298 Va.
392, 396 (2020) (quoting Commonwealth v. White, 293 Va. 411, 419 (2017)).
5
A contrary decision could result in the precise kind of unequal treatment under the law
anticipated by the Supreme Court in Ruplenas. See 221 Va. at 978. If we were to adopt the
dissent’s interpretation, two offenses committed at the same time could lead to entirely different
results depending on unpredictable circumstances such as whether the circuit court decides to
exercise its discretion in favor of the party asking for a continuance by granting it, whether the
non-moving party decides to object to the continuance, or whether the court docket is
backlogged to a point that a hearing is unavailable until after a new statute or amended statute
takes effect. If the circuit court’s mere exercise of its discretion to grant a three-week
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Consequently, for all of the reasons noted supra, we hold that the circuit court did not err
in the way it handled the revocation of Green’s sentence—in accordance with the law that was in
effect when Green committed the relevant probation violations and also in effect when his
revocation proceeding began.
III. CONCLUSION
In short, Green’s suspended sentences were expressly conditioned on his successful
completion of supervised probation. However, Green repeatedly violated the terms of his
probation, as documented by his probation officers in April 2021. He was arrested in June 2021.
He appeared for his scheduled revocation hearing on June 21, 2021—at which time he secured a
three-week continuance at the request of his counsel. Thus, Green’s revocation proceeding
actually began before the newly amended statute involved in this matter took effect on July 1,
2021.
When the parties returned for Green’s rescheduled revocation hearing on July 13, 2021,
the circuit court correctly applied the version of Code § 19.2-306 that was in effect at the time
Green violated his probation and that was in effect when his revocation proceeding began. When
statutory amendments become effective that would affect a pending matter and the amended
statute does not provide that it applies retroactively, courts should apply the law that was in
effect before the statutory amendments took effect unless the plain language of the amended
statute shows a contrary intent. See Washington, 216 Va. at 193. Furthermore, when a reenacted
statute does not “contain an express provision that the statutory changes would be effective
retroactively on a specified date,” the Supreme Court has held that “[t]he absence of this required
language from the bill compels a conclusion that the amendments to those sections are effective
continuance in this case resulted in actually changing the entire outcome of Green’s revocation,
we would incentivize potential future mischief and gamesmanship among parties in future cases
while departing from binding Supreme Court precedent.
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prospectively, not retroactively.” Berner, 265 Va. at 413-14. The amended statute before us
here does not state that it applies to revocation proceedings commenced prior to its effective
date. Although the General Assembly could have written it in that way, the General Assembly
simply did not choose to include any such express provision when it amended and reenacted
Code § 19.2-306. We are therefore bound to conclude that the amended statute does not govern
revocation proceedings that were commenced before July 1, 2021, when the amended statute
took effect.
Finally, newly enacted Code § 19.2-306.1 similarly lacks any express manifestation of
legislative intent for the statute to apply to revocation proceedings that began before this new
statute became effective on July 1, 2021. In an analogous case, the Supreme Court held “that the
penalty in existence at the time of the offense should be applied unless the Commonwealth first
elects to proceed under the new statute and obtains the consent of the defendant to do so.”
Ruplenas, 221 Va. at 978. Here, the Commonwealth did not agree to proceed under the new law,
and, as the Supreme Court has held, “Without the concurrence of both parties the previous
penalty must apply.” See id. at 977. Thus, the circuit court did not err in applying the penalty
that existed at the time when Green violated his probation and at the time when the proceeding to
revoke his suspended sentences began.
For all of these reasons, upon finding that Green had repeatedly violated the terms of his
probation, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by ordering Green to serve his suspended
sentences for assault and battery on a law enforcement officer and for petit larceny.
Consequently, we uphold the judgment of the circuit court.
Affirmed.
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Chaney, J., dissenting.
The General Assembly’s enactment of Code § 19.2-306.1 amended the Code of Virginia
with the clear legislative intent to modify the sentencing procedure in probation revocation hearings
and to limit the authority of trial courts to impose a term of active incarceration for violations of
the terms and conditions of probation and suspended sentences. The majority’s opinion
misconstrues Code § 19.2-306.1 in affirming the trial court’s revocation order. The trial court
failed to follow the applicable sentencing procedure under Code § 19.2-306.1 and imposed
sentences of active incarceration in violation of the sentencing limitations in Code § 19.2-306.1.
Therefore, I respectfully dissent.
I. CONSTRUCTION OF CODE § 19.2-306.1
A. Principles of Statutory Construction
“The primary objective of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to
legislative intent.” Jordan v. Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 1, 7 (2020) (quoting Commonwealth
v. Zamani, 256 Va. 391, 395 (1998)). “Under basic principles of statutory construction, we must
determine the General Assembly’s intent from the words contained in a statute.” Washington v.
Commonwealth, 272 Va. 449, 455 (2006) (quoting Commonwealth v. Diaz, 266 Va. 260, 264-65
(2003)); see also Wardell Orthopaedics v. Colonna’s Shipyard, 72 Va. App. 296, 306 (2020)
(“[E]very word of a statute must be given meaning.” (quoting Gray v. Graves Mountain Lodge,
26 Va. App. 350, 356 (1998))). “When the language of a statute is unambiguous, we are bound
by its plain meaning.” Boyle v. Anderson, ___ Va. ___, ___ (Apr. 14, 2022). “If the statute is
clear on its face, we rely on the plain words, and no interpretation is necessary.” Tanner v.
Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 86, 99 (2020).
“[A] statute should be read and considered as a whole, and the language of a statute
should be examined in its entirety to determine the intent of the General Assembly from the
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words contained in the statute.” Ford Motor Co. v. Gordon, 281 Va. 543, 549-50 (2011)
(alteration in original) (quoting Oraee v. Breeding, 270 Va. 488, 498 (2005)). “Statutes dealing
with the same subject matter must be read together so as to adhere to the legislative intent
underlying them and to permit them to operate together without conflict.” McKinney v. Virginia
Surgical Assocs, P.C., 284 Va. 455, 460 (2012) (citing City of Lynchburg v. English Constr. Co.,
277 Va. 574, 584 (2009)).
B. Modified Sentencing Procedure & Limitations on Sentencing Authority
To properly construe Code §§ 19.2-306 and 19.2-306.1, the analysis must begin with
consideration of the statutory language chosen by the legislature. The sentencing procedure for
probation revocation hearings under former Code § 19.2-306(C) provided that “[i]f the court, after
hearing, finds good cause to believe that the defendant has violated the terms of suspension, then . . .
if the court originally suspended the execution of the sentence, the court shall revoke the suspension
and the original sentence shall be in full force and effect.” 2016 Va. Acts c. 718 (repealed 2021).
The General Assembly further provided that upon revocation of a defendant’s previously suspended
sentence, “[t]he court may again suspend all or any part of this sentence.” Id.
Effective July 1, 2021, the General Assembly modified the sentencing procedure in
probation revocation hearings. At the time of sentencing in Green’s probation revocation hearing,
Code § 19.2-306(C) provided that “[i]f the court, after hearing, finds good cause to believe that
the defendant has violated the terms of suspension, then the court may revoke the suspension and
impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-306.1.” Code § 19.2-306.1(C)
provides:
The court shall not impose a sentence of a term of active
incarceration upon a first technical violation of the terms and
conditions of a suspended sentence or probation, and there shall be
a presumption against imposing a sentence of a term of active
incarceration for any second technical violation of the terms and
conditions of a suspended sentence or probation. However, if the
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court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant
committed a second technical violation and he cannot be safely
diverted from active incarceration through less restrictive means,
the court may impose not more than 14 days of active
incarceration for a second technical violation.
(Emphases added). Pursuant to Code § 19.2-306.1(A), “‘technical violation’ means a violation
based on the probationer’s failure” to comply with any of the ten probation requirements
enumerated in Code § 19.2-306.1(A).
The plain, unambiguous language of Code §§ 19.2-306 and 19.2-306.1 evinces the
General Assembly’s intent to limit the authority of trial courts to impose active incarceration for
violations of the terms and conditions of probation and suspended sentences. See Ronald J.
Bacigal, Virginia Practice: Criminal Procedure § 19:9, at 704 (2021-2022 ed.) (“[I]n 2021,
Virginia added § 19.2-306.1, which limits a trial court’s revocation authority.”). Effective July 1,
2021, a trial court “shall not impose a sentence of a term of active incarceration upon a first
technical violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation.” Code
§ 19.2-306.1(C) (emphasis added). If the probation violation is a first technical violation, then
the trial court has no authority to impose any period of active incarceration except when
necessary to facilitate the defendant’s evaluation for or participation in a court-ordered drug,
alcohol, or mental health treatment program.6 If the probation violation is a second technical
violation, then the trial court has no authority to impose a period of active incarceration greater
than fourteen days. See id. (“[T]he court may impose not more than 14 days of active
6
Pursuant to Code § 19.2-306.1(D),
[t]he limitations on sentencing in this section shall not apply to the
extent that an additional term of incarceration is necessary to allow
a defendant to be evaluated for or to participate in a court-ordered
drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment program. In such case,
the court shall order the shortest term of incarceration possible to
achieve the required evaluation or participation.
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incarceration for a second technical violation.”). For a third or subsequent technical violation,
“[t]he court may impose whatever sentence might have originally been imposed.” Id. “Multiple
technical violations arising from a single course of conduct or a single incident or considered at
the same revocation hearing shall not be considered separate technical violations for the
purposes of sentencing pursuant to this section.” Code § 19.2-306.1(A) (emphasis added).
Code § 19.2-306.1 creates a new statutory decision procedure that trial courts must follow
upon finding a defendant in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation. First, the trial
court must determine whether any of the violations are non-technical violations, including new
violations of law, good conduct violations, and violations of special conditions of a suspended
sentence. If any of the probation violations constitutes a new violation of law, a good conduct
violation that resulted in a conviction, or a violation of a special condition of the defendant’s
suspended sentence that does not qualify as a technical violation under Code § 19.2-306.1(A),
“then the court may revoke the suspension and impose or resuspend any or all of that period
previously suspended.” Code § 19.2-306.1(B).
If none of the probation violations are non-technical violations, the trial court must next
determine whether the defendant had any prior technical probation violations and, if so, how many.
If the defendant had two or more prior technical probation violations, then the current technical
violation would be a third or subsequent technical violation for which “[t]he court may impose
whatever sentence might have been originally imposed.” Code § 19.2-306.1(C).
If the defendant had only one prior technical violation, then the court must determine
whether the prior technical violation or any of the current technical violations are violations based
on clause (viii) or (x) of subsection A of Code § 19.2-306.1. Clause (viii) is a violation based on the
probationer’s failure to “refrain from the use, ownership, possession, or transportation of a firearm”
and clause (x) is a violation based on the failure to “maintain contact with the probation officer
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whereby his whereabouts are no longer known to the probation officer.” See Code § 19.2-306.1(A).
A technical violation based on clause (viii) or (x) “shall be considered a second technical violation.”
Code § 19.2-306.1(C). Accordingly, if the defendant’s prior technical violation or any of the
current technical violations is a violation based on clause (viii) or (x) of Code § 19.2-306.1(A), then
the current technical violation would be a third or subsequent technical violation for which “[t]he
court may impose whatever sentence might have been originally imposed.” Code § 19.2-306.1(C).
If the defendant had one prior technical probation violation and none of the defendant’s
technical violations is based on clause (viii) or (x) of Code § 19.2-306.1(A), then the defendant’s
current technical violation would be a second technical violation. Upon finding that the defendant’s
current technical violation is a second technical violation, the trial court must then determine
whether a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the defendant “cannot be safely diverted
from active incarceration through less restrictive means.” Code § 19.2-306.1(C). If and only if the
court so finds, “the court may impose not more than 14 days of active incarceration for a second
technical violation.” Id.
If the defendant had no prior technical violations and none of the defendant’s current
technical violations is based on clause (viii) or (x) of Code § 19.2-306.1(A), then the defendant’s
current technical violation is a first technical violation for which “[t]he court shall not impose a
sentence of a term of active incarceration . . . .” Id.
If the trial court determines that a term of incarceration in excess of the limitations under
Code § 19.2-306.1 “is necessary to allow a defendant to be evaluated for or to participate in a
court-ordered drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment program,” then “[t]he limitations on
sentencing in [Code § 19.2-306.1] shall not apply.” Code § 19.2-306.1(D). “In such case, the
court shall order the shortest term of incarceration possible to achieve the required evaluation or
participation.” Id.
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C. The Language of Code § 19.2-306.1 Evinces the Legislature’s Retrospective Intent
The plain terms of Code § 19.2-306.1 that limit trial courts’ sentencing authority upon “a
first technical violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation” and for
“any second technical violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or
probation” show that the General Assembly intended the statutory sentencing limits to apply to
all first and second technical probation violations, regardless of when the violation occurred or
when it was charged. (Emphases added). The indefinite article “a” and the adjective “any” are
unrestrictive modifiers in these statutory phrases. “The word ‘any,’ like other unrestrictive
modifiers such as ‘an’ and ‘all,’ is generally considered to apply without limitation.” Sussex
Cmty. Servs. Ass’n v. Va. Soc’y for Mentally Retarded Children, Inc., 251 Va. 240, 243 (1996)
(emphasis added); see also King v. Commonwealth, 53 Va. App. 257, 263 (2009) (“The plain and
unambiguous meaning of the word ‘any’ is ‘one or more indiscriminately from all those of a
kind.’” (quoting Cox v. Cox, 16 Va. App. 146, 148 (1993))). In the context of Code § 19.2-306.1,
the unambiguous plain meaning of the phrases “a first technical violation,” “any second technical
violation,” and “a suspended sentence” encompasses all such probation violations and all
suspended sentences—whether or not they occurred or began before Code § 19.2-306.1 became
effective on July 1, 2021. See Allen v. Mottley Constr. Co., 160 Va. 875, 889-90 (1933); see also
Bd. of Sup’rs of James City Cnty. v. Windmill Meadows, LLC, 287 Va. 170, 180 (2014) (“[T]his
Court has never required that the General Assembly use any specific form of words to indicate
that a new statute or amendment to an existing statute is intended to be applied retroactively.”
(quoting Sussex Cmty. Servs., 251 Va. at 245)).
Our Supreme Court’s analysis in Allen is “a ‘decisive’ example of a situation where
retrospective intent is expressed in legislative language.’” Wardell Orthopaedics, 72 Va. App. at
305 (quoting Sussex Cmty. Servs., 251 Va. at 243-44). In Allen, the Supreme Court construed a
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statutory amendment that applied to “an award” as applying to awards made both before and
after the amendment to the Workers’ Compensation Act. The Supreme Court reasoned that to
interpret the amendment that applied to “an award” as applying only prospectively to “any award
hereafter made,” “it would be necessary for us to supply words not found in the statute.” Allen,
160 Va. at 889 (first emphasis added); see also Sussex Cmty. Servs., 251 Va. 240 (holding that
the statutory phrase “any covenant” encompassed all covenants without limitation, whether
recorded before or after the date of statute’s enactment). Here, applying the reasoning in Allen, I
conclude that the General Assembly would have included additional limiting language if it had
intended Code § 19.2-306.1 to apply (i) only to probation violations or suspended sentence
violations occurring after the enactment of Code § 19.2-306.1 or (ii) only in cases with suspended
sentences or probation beginning after the enactment of Code § 19.2-306.1.
In accordance with the legislative intent expressed in the language of Code §§ 19.2-306
and 19.2-306.1, I would hold that Code § 19.2-306.1 applies in all probation violation hearings,
irrespective of the date on which the underlying offense was committed, or the date on which the
defendant’s probation or suspended sentence began, or the date on which process was issued or
served with respect to the alleged probation violation.
At Green’s July 13, 2021 revocation hearing, Code § 19.2-306.1 was in effect and the trial
court was mandated to follow its sentencing procedure and to comply with its sentencing
limitations. Notwithstanding this, the trial court ruled that Code § 19.2-306.1 did not apply in
Green’s revocation hearing. The trial court pronounced on the record that the disposition of
Green’s probation violation was governed by the general rule that statutes are prospective in the
absence of express statutory language showing a contrary intent. The trial court erred in
construing Code § 19.2-306.1. As explained above, the plain language of Code § 19.2-306.1 shows
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that the General Assembly intended to require trial courts to follow the new statutory decision
procedure and apply the statutory limits on active incarceration in all probation violation cases.
In failing to comply with Code § 19.2-306.1, the trial court cited this Court’s decision in
Taylor v. Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 179 (2004). In Taylor, this Court construed the 2003
amendment to the sentencing provisions of Code § 18.2-308.4 and held that the defendant was
properly sentenced under the version of the statute that was in effect when the defendant committed
the offense.7 44 Va. App. at 189. Our analysis in Taylor was “guided by the fundamental principles
of statutory construction that retroactive laws are not favored, and that a statute is always construed
to operate prospectively unless a contrary legislative intent is manifest.” Id. at 184 (emphasis
added) (quoting Berner v. Mills, 265 Va. 408, 413 (2003)).
Here, unlike the statute at issue in Taylor, the language of Code § 19.2-306.1 manifests the
legislative intent that trial courts follow a new statutory decision procedure in probation revocation
hearings. Therefore, the trial court erred in failing to comply with Code § 19.2-306.1 in Green’s
July 13, 2021 revocation hearing when Code § 19.2-306.1 became effective on July 1, 2021, before
Green’s revocation hearing.
II. THE TRIAL COURT MISINTERPRETED CODE § 1-239
The trial court erred in ruling that its decision was dictated by Code § 1-239, which the
trial court construed as requiring it to apply the law in effect at the time the probation violation
was instituted. Because Green’s probation violation case was instituted prior to the effective
date of Code § 19.2-306.1, the trial court concluded that Code § 19.2-306.1 did not apply in
Green’s revocation proceeding.
7
Code § 18.2-308.4 prohibits possession of a firearm while in possession of certain
controlled substances. “Under the 2003 version of the statute, a violation of subsection A no
longer carried a mandatory minimum sentence, a violation of subsection B carried a mandatory
minimum sentence of two years, and a violation of subsection C carried a mandatory minimum
sentence of five years.” Taylor, 44 Va. App. at 183.
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Code § 1-239 provides:
No new act of the General Assembly shall be construed to repeal a
former law, as to any offense committed against the former law, or
as to any act done, any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred,
or any right accrued, or claim arising under the former law, or in
any way whatever to affect any such offense or act so committed
or done, or any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment so incurred, or
any right accrued, or claim arising before the new act of the
General Assembly takes effect; except that the proceedings
thereafter held shall conform, so far as practicable, to the laws in
force at the time of such proceedings; and if any penalty,
forfeiture, or punishment be mitigated by any provision of the new
act of the General Assembly, such provision may, with the consent
of the party affected, be applied to any judgment pronounced after
the new act of the General Assembly takes effect.
(Emphasis added). This statute and its predecessor, Code § 1-16, have been applied in cases
where the General Assembly amended the statutory punishment for a criminal offense after the
defendant committed the offense.8 In such cases, our appellate courts have held the statutory
penalty at the time of the offense to be the applicable punishment.
In Ruplenas v. Commonwealth, 221 Va. 972, 975 (1981), our Supreme Court held that the
reduced penalties for marijuana offenses under the 1979 enactment of Code § 18.2-248.1 did not
apply to the sentencing of defendants who were tried and convicted of marijuana offenses before
the effective date of Code § 18.2-248.1. Applying former Code § 1-16, the predecessor to Code
§ 1-239, the Virginia Supreme Court held that “the penalty in existence at the time of the offense
should be applied unless the Commonwealth first elects to proceed under the new statute and
obtains the consent of the defendant to do so.” Ruplenas, 221 Va. at 978. Significantly,
however, the Supreme Court clarified that “[o]f course, the legislature could have expressly
addressed this situation in its enactment of Code § 18.2-248.1, but it did not do so. We are
relying on the general rule of construction prescribed by Code § 1-16.” Id.
8
Code § 1-16 was repealed and replaced by Code § 1-239 in 2005. See 2005 Va. Acts c.
839.
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The instant case is distinguished from Ruplenas because the express limitations on the
court’s sentencing authority and the unrestrictive plain terms of Code § 19.2-306.1 make it
applicable to all probation violation cases, as explained above, whereas the terms of Code
§ 18.2-248.1 did not make its reduced penalties for marijuana offenses applicable to all
sentencings for marijuana convictions regardless of the dates of offense and conviction.
Significantly, Code §§ 19.2-306(C) and 19.2-306.1 expressly limit the sentencing authority of
trial courts to impose a term of active incarceration in probation violation cases. Here, the trial
court and the majority misinterpreted and misapplied Code § 1-239 when the plain language of
Code § 19.2-306.1 is controlling. See Code § 1-202 (“The rules and definitions set forth in this
chapter shall be used in the construction of this Code and the acts of the General Assembly,
unless the construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intention of the General
Assembly.” (emphasis added)).9
The instant case is also distinguished from Ruplenas because the new statute at issue in
Ruplenas constituted a penalty reduction for marijuana offenses, whereas Code § 19.2-306.1 is
not a penalty reduction but is a modified decision procedure that may or may not result in the
imposition of a lesser sentence than would have been imposed prior to the July 1, 2021 effective
date of Code § 19.2-306.1. Code § 1-239 requires that when the General Assembly amends the
Code, “the proceedings thereafter held shall conform, so far as practicable, to the laws in force at
the time of such proceedings.” Accordingly, the trial court should have followed the decision
procedure set forth in Code § 19.2-306.1 at Green’s revocation hearing.
9
Code § 1-238 has no application here for the same reasons and because (i) the General
Assembly amended the Code of Virginia by adding Code § 19.2-306.1, whereas Code § 1-238
applies to reenacted statutes and (ii) Code § 1-238 does not apply to changes in
statutorily-prescribed procedures for sentencing proceedings, which “shall conform, so far as
practicable, to the laws in force at the time of such proceedings.” Code § 1-239.
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III. GREEN’S SENTENCE FOR FELONY PROBATION VIOLATION
A. Sentencing and Revocation History
In August 2018, Green was convicted on the charge of felony assault on a law enforcement
officer in violation of Code § 18.2-57. In December 2018, Green was sentenced to incarceration for
a term of three years, with two years and six months suspended. Green’s suspended sentence was
conditioned on his compliance with the rules and requirements of supervised probation for a period
not to exceed five years.
In November 2019, Green was found in violation of the terms and conditions of probation
based on (i) a new conviction for petit larceny; (ii) using, possessing or distributing drugs or
paraphernalia; (iii) failure to follows instructions and be truthful; and (iv) changing residence or
leaving the State without permission. The trial court revoked the suspension of Green’s sentence,
re-imposed the sentence of incarceration for two years and six months, and suspended one year and
six months of the sentence for a period of five years conditioned on Green’s compliance with
supervised probation.
B. Green’s Second Technical Probation Violation
On April 6, 2021, the trial court ordered that a capias be issued for Green’s arrest for failure
to comply with the conditions of his suspended sentence. The alleged probation violations in the
April 6, 2021 order included (i) failure to follow instructions and be truthful, cooperative, and report
as instructed; and (ii) unlawful use, possession, or distribution of controlled substances or related
paraphernalia. Each of these alleged violations of Green’s felony probation was a “technical
violation” as defined in Code § 19.2-306.1(A), and “[m]ultiple technical violations . . . considered at
the same revocation hearing shall not be considered separate technical violations for the purposes of
sentencing pursuant to [Code § 19.2-306.1].” Code § 19.2-306.1(A).
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At the July 13, 2021 revocation hearing, the trial court had limited authority to sentence
Green to a term of active incarceration for his second technical probation violation. Under the
plain, unambiguous, express terms of Code § 19.2-306.1(C), “there shall be a presumption
against imposing a sentence of a term of active incarceration for any second technical violation
of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation.” This statutory presumption
against the imposition of active incarceration is not rebutted unless the preponderance of
evidence proves that the defendant “cannot be safely diverted from active incarceration through
less restrictive means . . . .” Code § 19.2-306.1(C). If the trial court finds that the presumption
against active incarceration has been rebutted, then the trial court would have no authority to
impose a sentence in excess of fourteen days of active incarceration. See Code § 19.2-306.1(C).
In violation of the sentencing limitations under Code § 19.2-306.1, the trial court erred by
revoking and re-imposing the entirety of Green’s suspended sentence for felony assault, sentencing
Green to incarceration for one year and six months. Therefore, I would vacate the trial court’s
revocation order and remand with instructions to impose a sentence in compliance with Code
§ 19.2-306.1. See Burrell v. Commonwealth, 283 Va. 474, 480 (2012) (“Under Virginia law, a
sentencing order is void ab initio if ‘the character of the judgment was not such as the [C]ourt had
the power to render.’” (alteration in original) (quoting Rawls v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 213, 221
(2009))).
IV. GREEN’S SENTENCE FOR MISDEMEANOR PROBATION VIOLATION
By order entered in October 2019, Green was convicted on the misdemeanor charge of petit
larceny in violation of Code § 18.2-96. The trial court sentenced Green to incarceration for a term
of twelve months, with nine months suspended for a period of five years conditioned on (i) Green’s
compliance with local community-based probation for an indefinite period not to exceed five years
and (ii) completion of substance abuse treatment.
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On April 29, 2021, the trial court ordered that a capias be issued for Green’s arrest for
failure to comply with the conditions of his probation and suspended sentence. The alleged
probation violations in the April 29, 2021 order included (i) failure to report as instructed; (ii) failure
to follow instructions and be truthful and cooperative; (iii) unlawful use, possession, or distribution
of controlled substances or related paraphernalia; and (iv) failure to comply with the special
condition to complete substance abuse treatment.
On July 13, 2021, a combined revocation hearing was held on the alleged violations of
Green’s probation and suspended sentences for felony assault and petit larceny. With respect to
Green’s probation for petit larceny, the alleged violation of the special condition to complete
substance abuse treatment is not a technical violation as defined in Code § 19.2-306.1(A). Pursuant
to Code § 19.2-306.1(B),
[i]f the court finds the basis of a violation of the terms and
conditions of a suspended sentence or probation is that the
defendant . . . has violated another condition other than (i) a
technical violation or (ii) a good conduct violation that did not
result in a criminal conviction, then the court may revoke the
suspension and impose or resuspend any or all of that period
previously suspended.
Absent such a finding, Green’s violation of his probation for petit larceny would be a first technical
violation for which the trial court lacked authority to impose a sentence of a term of active
incarceration. See Code § 19.2-306.1(C).
Although the trial court revoked and re-imposed the entirety of Green’s nine-month
suspended sentence for petit larceny,10 the record does not show that the trial court found Green in
violation of the special condition to complete substance abuse treatment. Therefore, I would reverse
The trial court ordered that the terms of active incarceration for Green’s felony and
10
misdemeanor probation violations “will run concurrently with each other.”
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the trial court’s revocation order and remand with instructions to impose a sentence in compliance
with Code § 19.2-306.1.
V. CONCLUSION
The trial court erred in failing to follow the mandatory decision procedure set forth in Code
§ 19.2-306.1 and in sentencing Green to active incarceration in violation of the sentencing limits
established in Code § 19.2-306.1. Therefore, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s judgment
affirming the trial court’s revocation order.
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