STATE v. McDANIEL (2009)

 The state seeks reconsideration of our decision in State v. McDaniel, 225 Or.App. 72, 200 P.3d 177 (2009) (McDaniel II ), arguing that our analysis and disposition are incorrect in light of the United States Supreme Court's subsequent decision in Oregon v. Ice, --- U.S. ----, 129 S.Ct. 711, 172 L.Ed.2d 517 (2009).   As explained below, we agree.   We also reject defendant's remaining argument challenging his sentence and accordingly affirm defendant's convictions and sentence.

This case is before us on remand from the Supreme Court, which vacated our prior decision, State v. McDaniel, 214 Or.App. 694, 167 P.3d 487 (2007) (McDaniel I ), in light of State v. Ramirez, 343 Or. 505, 173 P.3d 817 (2007), adh'd to as modified on recons., 344 Or. 195, 179 P.3d 673 (2008), and State v. Fults, 343 Or. 515, 173 P.3d 822 (2007).  State v. McDaniel, 345 Or. 316, 195 P.3d 63 (2008).   In our previous decision on remand, we affirmed our original decision to remand for resentencing based on our conclusion that under State v. Ice, 343 Or. 248, 170 P.3d 1049 (2007), the court's imposition of consecutive sentences on defendant's convictions ran afoul of defendant's Sixth Amendment rights.  McDaniel II, 225 Or.App. at 75, 200 P.3d 177.  Ice has since been reversed by the United States Supreme Court.   Given the intervening reversal of Ice, we must now address the question that we did not reach in McDaniel II, that is, whether we should exercise our discretion to correct an unpreserved error made by the trial court when it imposed an upward departure sentence of six months' imprisonment after it found defendant to be “not amenable to probation.”   We affirm.

Defendant was convicted of both misdemeanor and felony attempting to elude a police officer (Counts 2 and 3), giving false information to a police officer (Count 4), and recklessly endangering another person (Count 5).   The court imposed a departure sentence of six months' imprisonment on Count 2 after finding that defendant was not amenable to probation in light of his extensive criminal history.

In this case, defendant testified in his own defense and admitted to having more than a dozen prior convictions since 1993, including convictions for giving false information  to a police officer and attempting to elude;  defendant also admitted to having attempt to elude charges pending against him in another county.   Defendant also testified that, in addition to his two prior attempt to elude convictions, he also had succeeded in eluding police at least five times.   In light of defendant's testimony, we conclude that there is no legitimate debate that the jury would have found the departure factor that the trial court identified.   See Ramirez, 343 Or. at 513, 173 P.3d 817 (setting out “legitimate debate” standard for exercise of discretion to review unpreserved challenges to departure sentences based on judicial findings of fact).   Accordingly, we affirm.

Reconsideration allowed;  former opinion withdrawn;  affirmed.

PER CURIAM.