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State v. Gill

Oregon Court of Appeals
Jun 15, 1976
547 P.2d 166 (Or. Ct. App. 1976)

Opinion

No. C75-04-1202 Cr., CA 5351

Argued February 24, 1976.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with instructions March 22, reconsideration denied April 28, 1976. Petition for review denied June 15, 1976.

Appeal from Circuit Court, Multnomah County, Richard J. Burke, Judge (on motions to suppress evidence and to controvert affidavit). Alfred T. Sulmonetti, Judge (trial).

Dennis H. Elliott, Portland, argued the cause for appellant. On the brief were Kevin P. O'Connell and O'Connell, Goyak Haugh, P.C., Portland.

Kevin L. Mannix, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Lee Johnson, Attorney General, and W. Michael Gillette, Solicitor General, Salem.

Before Schwab, Chief Judge, and Foley and Fort, Judges.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with instructions.


FORT, J.


Defendant was indicted, tried to the court after jury waiver, and convicted on three separate counts of Criminal Activity in Drugs, involving unlawful possession respectively of heroin, cocaine and marihuana. ORS 167.207. He received sentences of ten years on each count, each to run consecutively to its predecessor. Execution of sentence on each count was then suspended for five years and defendant was placed on five years' probation on each. He appeals, asserting error in denial of a motion to suppress evidence, and also in the imposition of three separate sentences.

Pursuant to a warrant the police searched defendant's premises, found the three drugs above, seized them and arrested the defendant. Defendant contends that the warrant was issued without probable cause and filed motions both to suppress and to controvert. The testimony presented did not controvert the allegations of the affidavit and on its face the affidavit clearly furnished probable cause for the issuance of the warrant. State v. Willis, 24 Or. App. 409, 545 P.2d 1392 (1976).

We turn to the second assignment relating to imposition of three sentences for simultaneous possession in the same place of three separate drugs. We agree that but one sentence could be imposed. The indictment charged in each count that possession of each of the prohibited drugs was part of one and the same transaction. The offense occurred at the same time in the same place and only the defendant was charged with Criminal Activity in Drugs. This case is governed by the holdings developed in and from State v. Welch, 264 Or. 388, 505 P.2d 910 (1973); State v. Florance, 15 Or. App. 118, 515 P.2d 195 (1973), rev'd on other grounds 270 Or. 169, 527 P.2d 1202 (1974), State v. Estlick, 24 Or. App. 117, 544 P.2d 596 (1976); State v. Homer, 22 Or. App. 328, 538 P.2d 945, Sup Ct review denied (1975); State v. Morales, 21 Or. App. 827, 537 P.2d 109, former opinion adhered to, 22 Or. App. 470, 539 P.2d 1112, Sup Ct review denied (1975); State v. Boyd, 15 Or. App. 650, 517 P.2d 321 (1973), Sup Ct review denied (1974); State v. Miller, 14 Or. App. 396, 513 P.2d 508 (1973); State v. Dechand, 13 Or. App. 530, 511 P.2d 430 (1973). Recently in State v. Homer, supra, a case where in the search of a car a defendant was found in possession of two separate prohibited drugs in the glove compartment, we concluded that although convicted of possession of each, he could be sentenced for only one. If follows then that in this case the judgment must be reversed and the case remanded to the trial court for the modification of its sentence to provide for only one penalty. State v. Welch, supra, 264 Or at 395.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.


Summaries of

State v. Gill

Oregon Court of Appeals
Jun 15, 1976
547 P.2d 166 (Or. Ct. App. 1976)
Case details for

State v. Gill

Case Details

Full title:STATE OF OREGON, Respondent, v. JAMES LEE GILL, Appellant

Court:Oregon Court of Appeals

Date published: Jun 15, 1976

Citations

547 P.2d 166 (Or. Ct. App. 1976)
547 P.2d 166

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