Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
STATE of Oregon, Plaintiff-Respondent, Cross-Appellant, v. Gregory James HOPSON, Defendant-Appellant, Cross-Respondent.
Defendant, who was convicted after a jury trial of one count of first-degree sodomy, ORS 163.405, and one count of first-degree kidnapping, ORS 163.235, appeals, assigning error to the trial court's determination that he is a “sexually violent dangerous offender,” ORS 137.765. Defendant contends that the trial court's determination in that regard violated the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution under the principles enunciated in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), and Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). The state cross-appeals, assigning error to the court's imposition of concurrent sentences, based on the court's determination that, although it believed that consecutive sentences would be justified, the principles of Apprendi and Blakely precluded the imposition of such sentences based on judicial factfinding. As explained below, we agree with the state on cross-appeal, and therefore remand for resentencing on the cross-appeal. Given that disposition, we need not reach defendant's assignment of error on appeal.
As an initial matter, we note that the issue that the state raises on cross-appeal is reviewable under ORS 138.222(4)(a) (as a claim that the “sentencing court failed to comply with requirements of law in * * * failing to impose a sentence”). See State v. Arnold, 214 Or.App. 201, 212, 164 P.3d 334 (appellate court may review a sentencing issue when the sentence that was imposed was an authorized sentence, but the lower court is asserted to have erroneously determined that the defendant was not eligible for a different, also legally authorized, sentence).
The issue raised in the cross-appeal was resolved by this court in State v. Tanner, 210 Or.App. 70, 76, 150 P.3d 31 (2006), in which we held that “judicial factfinding in support of consecutive sentences does not violate the Sixth Amendment.” The trial court erred in its conclusion to the contrary. Given that that error requires us to remand the case for resentencing, ORS 138.222(5), there is no need for us to reach the sentencing issue raised by defendant on appeal.
Appeal dismissed as moot. On cross-appeal, sentences vacated; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.
PER CURIAM.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: 03CR0270; A126720.
Decided: July 25, 2007
Court: Court of Appeals of Oregon.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)