Opinion
No. 499 2011.
2012-07-31
STATE of Delaware, Plaintiff Below–Appellant, v. Leval E. PETTY, Defendant Below–Appellee.
Court Below: Superior Court of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, ID No. 100900052.
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND, and RIDGELY, Justices.
ORDER
HENRY DuPONT RIDGELY, Justice.
This 31st day of July 2012, it appears to the Court that:
(1) The State of Delaware appeals as of right from a Superior Court order sentencing Defendant–Below/Appellee, Leval E. Petty, to three years of imprisonment for his conviction of Attempted Robbery First Degree. The State contends that because Petty was declared a habitual offender for this conviction, which was a violent felony, the Superior Court was required by law to sentence Petty to at least the statutory maximum penalty for that conviction. The statutory maximum penalty for Attempted Robbery First Degree is twenty-five years of Level V imprisonment.
See10 Del. C. § 9902(a), (f).
See11 Del. C. § 4214(a) (“Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, any person sentenced pursuant to this subsection shall receive a minimum sentence which shall not be less than the statutory maximum penalty provided elsewhere in this title for the 4th or subsequent felony which forms the basis of the State's petition to have the person declared to be an habitual criminal except that this minimum provision shall apply only when the 4th or subsequent felony is a Title 11 violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title.”)
.11 Del. C. § 832(a), (c); § 4205(b)(2).
(2) On appeal, Petty concedes that as a matter of law the Superior Court was required to impose a minimum sentence of twenty-five years pursuant to 11 Del. C. § 4214(a). But, Petty argues that the State has waived appellate review of the sentencing issue by failing to brief the issue below after sentencing or move for a correction of sentence under Superior Court Criminal Rule 35(a).
(3) We find no merit to Petty's waiver argument. At sentencing, the State made a timely objection to the sentence imposed. Because the parties agree and the record shows that the sentence imposed does not comply with the applicable statutes, we must reverse and remand for resentencing.
(4) NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior Court is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED for sentencing on the Attempted Robbery First Degree charge consistent with the applicable penal statutes.