STATE v. RODRIGUEZ (2009)

 The state seeks reconsideration of our decision in State v. Rodriguez, 225 Or.App. 150, 200 P.3d 607 (2009) (Rodriguez III ), 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 on remand to us from the Oregon Supreme Court to consider whether we properly exercised our discretion, under Ailes v. Portland Meadows, Inc., 312 Or. 376, 382 n. 6, 823 P.2d 956 (1991), to correct an unpreserved sentencing error and to remand for resentencing.  State v. Rodriguez, 201 Or.App. 94, 116 P.3d 923 (2005) (Rodriguez I ), vac'd and rem'd, 345 Or. 316, 195 P.3d 63 (2008) (Rodriguez II ).   In our previous decision on remand, we affirmed our original decision to remand for resentencing, and did so based on a conclusion that the court's imposition of consecutive sentences on defendant's convictions ran afoul of defendant's rights under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Rodriguez III, 225 Or.App. at 153, 200 P.3d 607.   We based our conclusion on the Oregon Supreme Court's decision in State v. Ice, 343 Or. 248, 170 P.3d 1049 (2007), which has since been overturned by the United States Supreme Court.   Given the intervening decision in Oregon v. Ice, we must now address the question that we did not reach in Rodriguez III, viz., whether we should exercise our Ailes discretion to correct an unpreserved error made by the trial court when it imposed an upward departure sentence of 18 months' imprisonment on one of defendant's convictions based on its finding that the victim was more vulnerable than typical.

 In determining whether it is proper to exercise our Ailes discretion, we are guided by numerous considerations, including “the competing interests of the parties;  the nature of the case;  the gravity of the error;  [and] the ends of justice in the particular case.”  Ailes, 312 Or. at 382 n. 6, 823 P.2d 956.   The “interests of the parties” factor includes whether the state has “a significant interest in avoiding a second, unnecessary sentencing  hearing.”  State v. Ramirez, 343 Or. 505, 513, 173 P.3d 817 (2007), adh'd to as modified on recons., 344 Or. 195, 179 P.3d 673 (2008).   Where we are able to conclude that there would be “no legitimate debate” that a jury would find the facts necessary to support the enhanced sentence, the defendant has no significant interest in resentencing, whereas the state does have a significant interest in avoiding an unnecessary resentencing.  Id.

In this case, the trial court specified several factors in support of the departure sentence and specifically noted that the existence of any of those factors would, alone, be sufficient to support the departure sentence.   Rodriguez III, 225 Or.App. at 152, 200 P.3d 607.   One of the factors specified by the court was that the victim in this case was particularly vulnerable.   Based on our review of the record in this case, including the evidence that the victim was a person with a mental disability, we conclude that a determination that the victim was particularly vulnerable is beyond legitimate debate.   We thus conclude that, in this circumstance, defendant has no significant interest in resentencing and, accordingly, we decline to exercise our Ailes discretion to correct the sentencing error.

Reconsideration allowed;  former opinion withdrawn;  affirmed.

PER CURIAM.