State v. Candley

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NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

No. 115,640

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

STATE OF KANSAS,
Appellee,

v.

MICHAEL CANDLEY, JR.,
Appellant.


MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appeal from Ford District Court; E. LEIGH HOOD, judge. Opinion filed June 9, 2017. Affirmed.

Sam Schirer, of Kansas Appellate Defender Office, for appellant.

Kathleen Neff, assistant county attorney, and Derek Schmidt, attorney general, for appellee.

Before SCHROEDER, P.J., GREEN, J., and BURGESS, S.J.

Per Curiam: Michael Candley, Jr., pled no contest to one count of aggravated
indecent liberties with a child. The trial court sentenced Candley to 59 months'
imprisonment followed by lifetime postrelease supervision. Candley now appeals his
sentence of lifetime postrelease supervision, arguing that the 2013 amendments to K.S.A.
22-3717 required the trial court to sentence him to 36 months' postrelease supervision.
Nevertheless, this court has previously rejected this same argument regarding the 2013
amendments to K.S.A. 22-3717 in State v. Herrmann, 53 Kan. App. 2d 147, 384 P.3d
1019 (2016). Accordingly, we affirm.

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On November 10, 2014, the State charged Candley with three counts of
aggravated indecent liberties with a child, each off-grid person felonies in violation of
K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 21-5506(b)(3)(A). The first two counts alleged that Candley had
fondled or touched a child under the age of 14 with the "intent to arouse or satisfy the
sexual desires" of either himself or the child between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013.
The third count alleged that Candley engaged in the same conduct with a child, but the
conduct occurred between April 1, 2014, and August 1, 2014. Later, at Candley's
preliminary hearing, the State amended the complaint to additionally charge Candley
with two counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim who was under the age
of 18 by threat of violence, a severity level 6 person felony in violation of K.S.A. 2016
Supp. 21-5909(b)(4).

Eventually, Candley entered into a plea agreement with the State. Under the plea
agreement, in exchange for Candley's no contest plea on the first count of aggravated
indecent liberties with a child, the State agreed to the following: (1) it would dismiss
Candley's remaining two aggravated indecent liberties with a child charges as well as the
two aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim charges; and (2) it would jointly, with
Candley, recommend that he be granted a durational departure to be sentenced on the
Kansas Sentencing Guidelines Act (KSGA) grid as if he had committed a severity level 3
person felony.

Candley later entered a no contest plea to the first count of aggravated indecent
liberties with a child in accordance with his plea agreement with the State. After entering
his no contest plea, Candley moved to withdraw his plea. Candley alleged that he was
entitled to withdraw plea because his attorney had failed to give him discovery, had failed
to adequately communicate with him, and had ignored him when he said he wanted to
prove his innocence at trial. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on Candley's
motion to withdraw plea. Following the evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied
Candley's motion to withdraw plea.
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Candley then moved for a durational departure, requesting that he be sentenced on
the KSGA grid. Candley asserted that he should be sentenced on the KSGA grid because
the State agreed to it as part of his plea agreement. Candley also argued that the trial court
should grant the departure because of his lack of criminal history and for reformative
purposes.

At sentencing, the trial court granted Candley's durational departure motion to be
sentenced on the KSGA grid because the State was jointly recommending it. As a result,
the trial court sentenced Candley to the standard KSGA grid sentence for his criminal
history score of "I," which was 59 months' imprisonment followed by lifetime postrelease
supervision. Candley did not object to the imposition of lifetime postrelease supervision.

Is Candley's Sentence of Lifetime Postrelease Supervision Illegal?

Candley's only argument on appeal is that the imposition of lifetime postrelease
supervision was illegal. Candley contends that the July 1, 2013, amendments to K.S.A.
22-3717 required the trial court to sentence him to 36 months' postrelease supervision.
Candley asserts that both subparagraph (D) and (G) of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717(d)(1),
which are the provisions that dictate what term of postrelease supervision applies to a
defendant, could apply to him under the plain language of those subparagraphs. Candley
argues that although subparagraph (G) calls for defendants convicted of sexually violent
crimes to serve lifetime postrelease supervision, subparagraph (D) calls for defendants
convicted of sexually violent crimes to serve a term of 12 to 36 months on postrelease
supervision. Candley asserts that under the rule of lenity, courts are required to sentence
defendants like himself to the lesser term of postrelease supervision under subparagraph
(D). Candley further asserts that the July 1, 2013, amendments apply retroactively to his
aggravated indecent liberties with a child conviction.

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The State counters that K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717(d)(1)(D) and (G) do not
conflict, emphasizing that subparagraph (D) and (G) speak to the postrelease supervision
sentences of different classes of defendants. The State argues that Candley was properly
sentenced to lifetime postrelease supervision under K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717(d)(1)(G)
based on the date and nature of his crime. In making this argument, the State points out
that this court rejected a very similar argument in our recent decision in Herrmann.

Standard of Review

"Whether a sentence is illegal is a question of law over which an appellate court
has unlimited review." Herrmann, 53 Kan. App. 2d at 149. Moreover, to the extent
Candley's challenge involves interpretation of statutes, this court exercises de novo
review. Herrmann, 53 Kan. App. 2d at 150.

Preservation

An illegal sentence under K.S.A. 22-3504(1) includes a sentence that does not
conform to the applicable statutory provisions. See State v. Gray, 303 Kan. 1011, 1014,
368 P.3d 1113 (2016). Because K.S.A. 22-3504(1) states that courts may correct an
illegal sentence "at any time," courts may review a defendant's illegal sentence challenge
even when raised for the first time on appeal. Gray, 303 Kan. at 1014. Accordingly, as
argued by Candley in his brief, this court may consider Candley's argument that the
imposition of lifetime postrelease supervision was illegal even though he did not make
this argument below.

Applicable Law

In relevant part, the amended K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717 states:

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"(d)(1) Persons sentenced for crimes, other than off-grid crimes, committed on or
after July 1, 1993, or persons subject to subparagraph (G), will not be eligible for parole,
but will be released to a mandatory period of postrelease supervision upon completion of
the prison portion of their sentence as follows:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (D) and (E), persons sentenced for
nondrug severity levels 1 through 4 crimes, drug severity levels 1 and 2 crimes
committed on or after July 1, 1993, but prior to July 1, 2012, and drug severity levels 1, 2
and 3 crimes committed on or after July 1, 2012, must serve 36 months on postrelease
supervision.
. . . .
(D) Persons sentenced to a term of imprisonment that includes a sentence for a
sexually violent crime as defined in K.S.A. 22-3717 . . . shall serve the period of
postrelease supervision as provided in subsections (d)(1)(A), (d)(1)(B) or (d)(1)(C) plus
the amount of good time and program credit earned and retained pursuant to K.S.A. 21-
4722, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-6821, and amendments thereto, on postrelease
supervision.
. . . .
(G) Except as provided in subsection (u), persons convicted of a sexually violent
crime committed on or after July 1, 2006, and who are released from prison, shall be
released to a mandatory period of postrelease supervision for the duration of the person's
natural life."

Of note, K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1)(G) was enacted by the legislature on July 1, 2006.
See L. 2006, ch. 212, sec. 19. Since enactment of subparagraph (G), it has not been
amended by the legislature. Moreover, the current language of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-
3717(d)(1)(D) that Candley relies on in arguing the imposition of lifetime postrelease
supervision was illegal has remained unaltered since the July 1, 2013, amendments.

Explanation of Candley's Arguments

Candley concedes that aggravated indecent liberties is a sexually violent crime as
meant under subparagraph (G) of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717(d). This is because K.S.A.
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2016 Supp. 22-3717(d)(5)(C) explicitly defines aggravated indecent liberties with a child
as a sexually violent crime. Nevertheless, Candley argues that subparagraph (D) could
have also applied to him under the circumstances of his case. Candley explains that like
subparagraph (G), subparagraph (D) addresses the length of the postrelease supervision a
defendant who has committed a sexually violent crime must serve. Because both
subparagraph (D) and (G) pertain to the length of the postrelease supervision that
defendants, who have committed sexually violent crimes, must serve, Candley contends
that he falls under the scope of both subparagraphs.

Candley argues that under the rule of lenity, the trial court was required to impose
his postrelease supervision sentence in accordance with subparagraph (D). In making this
argument, Candley explains that subparagraph (D) states that defendants convicted of
sexually violent crimes are required to serve terms of postrelease supervision outlined in
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C); subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) mandate either 36-, 24-,
or 12-month terms of postrelease supervision based on the severity level of the crime the
defendant committed. Thus, sexually violent offenders sentenced to postrelease
supervision under subparagraph (D) clearly have shorter postrelease supervision
sentences than those sentenced to lifetime postrelease supervision under subparagraph
(G). Candley contends that under the rule of lenity, which requires courts to interpret
statutory provisions in favor of the defendant, the trial court was required to sentence him
to postrelease supervision under subparagraph (D)'s shorter postrelease supervision term
language.

Although not clearly argued in his brief, Candley believes that the trial court was
required to sentence him to 36 months' postrelease supervision. This is because once the
trial court departed to the KSGA grid, Candley was sentenced as if he had committed a
severity level 3 person felony, and subparagraph (A) dictates that defendants convicted of
nondrug severity level 3 felonies must serve a term of 36 months' postrelease supervision.
Last, Candley argues that the July 1, 2013, amendments to K.S.A. 22-3717 apply to him
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even though he committed his crime between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013,
because the "legislature has expressed a clear desire for [the] amendments to operate
retroactively."

Herrmann Establishes Candley's Argument is Flawed

Yet, there are significant problems with Candley's arguments. As mentioned by
the State in its brief, this court has recently rejected in Herrmann the arguments that
Candley currently makes. Because Herrmann was decided after Candley filed his brief,
Candley has not addressed Herrmann in his brief. Moreover, Candley has not filed a
supplemental brief distinguishing Herrmann from his case. Regardless, a review of
Herrmann establishes that Candley's arguments regarding the application of K.S.A. 2016
Supp. 22-3717(d)(1)(D) are flawed.

In Herrmann, Herrmann had committed an attempted aggravated indecent liberties
with a child. The trial court initially sentenced Herrmann to 24 months' postrelease
supervision. Upon the State's motion, however, the trial court corrected Herrmann's
sentence, sentencing him to lifetime postrelease supervision as required under K.S.A. 22-
3717(d)(1)(G). Herrmann appealed, making the following arguments: (1) that the July 1,
2013, amendments to K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1)(D) retroactively eliminated the court's ability
to impose lifetime postrelease supervision under K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1)(G) for persons
convicted of sexually violent crimes; (2) alternatively, the conflicting language within
subparagraph (D) and (G) of K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1) required courts to impose the shorter
postrelease supervision terms prescribed in subparagraph (D) under the rule of lenity. The
Herrmann court rejected both arguments.

First, the Herrmann court held that the plain language of K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 22-
3717(d)(1) established that a defendant may fall under the scope of either subparagraph
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(D) or subparagraph (G), but not both. 53 Kan. App. 2d at 152. The Herrmann court
explained:

"Subsection (d)(1) explains that persons sentenced for crimes committed after July 1,
1993, will not be eligible for parole; instead, they will be subject to mandatory
postrelease supervision as provided in the subparagraphs that follow. Notably, however,
this subsection (d)(1) expressly states that the mandatory postrelease supervision
provided in the subparagraphs that follow do not apply to 'persons subject to
subparagraph (G).' Subparagraph (G) provides that 'persons convicted of a sexually
violent crime committed on or after July 1, 2006, and who are released from prison, shall
be released to a mandatory period of postrelease supervision for the duration of the
person's natural life.' Herrmann was convicted of attempted aggravated indecent liberties
with a child, which is a sexually violent crime under subsection (d)(5)(C) and (d)(5)(M).
His conviction occurred after July 1, 2006. Because Herrmann is subject to subparagraph
(G), no other subparagraph following subsection (d)(1) applies to him—including
subparagraph (D)." 53 Kan. App. 2d at 152.

Then, because Herrmann could not possibly fall under the scope of subparagraph (D), the
Herrmann court concluded that there was "no need to determine whether the amended
provision would apply retroactively to [Herrmann's] case." 53 Kan. App. 2d at 154.

Second, the Herrmann court held that Herrmann's argument that the plain
language of subparagraphs (D) and (G) conflicted was incorrect, explaining:

"The provisions in each subparagraph apply to a distinct class of persons. K.S.A. 22-3717
as a whole applies to all persons convicted of a crime after July 1, 1993. See L. 1992, ch.
239, sec. 270 ('Persons sentenced for crimes committed on or after July 1, 1993, will not
be eligible for parole, but will be released to a mandatory period of postrelease
supervision upon completion of the prison portion of their sentence.'). Subparagraph (G)
was added to the statute in 2006 to create an explicit exception applicable only for
'persons convicted of a sexually violent crime committed on or after July 1, 2006.' See L.
2006, ch. 212, sec. 19 (also adding language to [d][1] excepting 'persons subject to
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subparagraph [G]'). Reading subparagraph (D) in pari materia, it falls under subsection
(d)(1) and so applies to all persons but those expressly excluded: persons sentenced for
off-grid crimes committed on or after July 1, 1993, and persons committing a sexually
violent crime on or after July 1, 2006, as stated in subparagraph (G). Therefore,
subparagraph (D) only applies to persons convicted of a sexually violent crime after July
1, 1993, but before July 1, 2006. Thus, there are no persons convicted of a sexually
violent crime to whom both subparagraph (D) and subparagraph (G) apply. Construing
the statute as a whole and giving effect to all of the statutes, as this court must, there is no
conflict or ambiguity in amended subsection (d)(1). 53 Kan. App. 2d at 153.

The Herrmann court further held that the legislative history of the 2013
amendments proved that the plain language of K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1)(D) and (G) did not
conflict because subparagraph (D) was amended to prevent certain defendants,
"including persons who committed a sexually violent offense between July 1, 1993, and
June 30, 2006," from being entitled to have good time credit or program credit earned
while in prison not added to their term of postrelease supervision. 53 Kan. App. 2d at
153. The Herrmann court noted:

"The 2013 amendments deleted the language pertaining to good-time and program credits
from subparagraphs (A)-(C)—in effect, reducing the length of postrelease supervision
sentences by not requiring those credits to be added to a person's postrelease term. But
the legislature did not want to provide that same benefit for persons convicted of certain
crimes, including sexually violent crimes. So, the legislature also amended subparagraph
(D) to provide an exception for persons convicted of sexually violent crimes so that
earned good-time and program credits continued to be added to their postrelease
supervision period. L. 2013, ch. 133, sec. 13. In a nutshell, the postrelease supervision
calculation for persons convicted of a sexually violent crime between July 1, 1993, and
June 30, 2006, remained the same as it was prior to the 2013 amendments. 53 Kan. App.
2d at 154.

While Candley has presented his arguments in a different order than Herrmann,
the Herrmann court's analysis regarding the plain language of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-
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3717(d)(1)(D) and (G) applies nonetheless. Briefly, Candley argues that he could fall
under the scope of both subparagraph (D) and (G) based on the fact he committed a
sexually violent crime and both subparagraphs state that they apply to defendants who
committed sexually violent crimes. Yet, Candley's argument fails to recognize that
subsection (d)(1) of K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717 states that the mandatory postrelease
supervision terms addressed in subparagraphs (A)-(D) do not apply to "persons subject to
subparagraph (G)." This, of course, means that Candley, as a person who concedes he is
subject to subparagraph (G), cannot be subject to subparagraph (D). Candley additionally
ignores that subparagraph (D) applies only to persons who committed a sexually violent
crime after July 1, 1993, but before July 1, 2006. Clearly, Candley cannot fall under the
plain language of subparagraph (D) given that he committed his sexually violent crime in
2013, well after the July 1, 2006, cut-off date. Consequently, the only subparagraph of
K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3717(d)(1) Candley could have been sentenced under was
subparagraph (G), which mandated that he serve a term of lifetime postrelease
supervision.

In summary, although Candley has not addressed Herrmann, the Herrmann court's
in depth analysis of the 2013 amendments to K.S.A. 22-3717(d)(1) establish that
Candley's arguments are meritless. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's imposition of
lifetime postrelease supervision based on the reasoning outlined in Herrmann. See State
v. Fishback, No. 114,797, 2016 WL 7031848, at *1 (Kan. App. 2016) (unpublished
opinion) (where this court adopted the reasoning in Herrmann to reject identical
arguments); State v. Rothstein, No. 114,749, 2016 WL 7031921, at *2 (Kan. App. 2016)
(unpublished opinion) (same); State v. Hill, No. 115,041, 2016 WL 6919609, at *1 (Kan.
App. 2016) (unpublished opinion) (same); and State v. Ramsey, No. 114,795, 2016 WL
6925994, at *1 (Kan. App. 2016) (unpublished opinion) (same).

Affirmed.