STATE v. DUYCK (2020)

Defendant pleaded guilty to third-degree theft, ORS 164.043, which is a Class C misdemeanor. The court suspended imposition of sentence and placed defendant on probation, requiring her to pay a $100 fine and complete 48 hours of community service. Thereafter, the court found defendant in violation of her probation for failing to complete community service and amended the judgment to impose an additional fine of $1,500. Defendant did not object but argues on appeal that the court plainly erred in imposing the additional fine because, under ORS 161.635(1)(c), the maximum fine for a Class C misdemeanor is $1,250. The state concedes the error.

This court has concluded that imposition of a sentence that exceeds a statutory maximum constitutes plain error. See, e.g., State v. Snyder, 298 Or. App. 804, 447 P.3d 41, rev. den., 366 Or. 64, 455 P.3d 38 (2019) (exercising discretion to correct error where total length of sentence exceeded statutory maximum). This court also has corrected plain errors regarding the amount of a fine. See generally State v. Loudermilk, 288 Or. App. 88, 405 P.3d 195 (2017) (court erred in concluding that defendant was subject to mandatory minimum fine). Under the circumstance presented here, we conclude that the court plainly erred in imposing a fine in an amount greater than allowed under ORS 161.635(1)(c), and that the gravity of the error and the ends of justice weigh in favor of exercising our discretion to correct it. See generally Ailes v. Portland Meadows, Inc., 312 Or. 376, 382-83, 823 P.2d 956 (1991) (setting out factors to consider in the exercise of discretion).

Portion of amended judgment imposing additional $1,500 fine vacated; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.

PER CURIAM