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State v. Gray

Court of Appeals of Kansas
Sep 27, 1996
22 Kan. App. 2 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996)

Opinion


924 P.2d 647 (Kan.App. 1996) 22 Kan.App.2d 875 STATE of Kansas, Appellee, v. Jimmie D. GRAY, Appellant. No. 76182. Court of Appeals of Kansas September 27, 1996

       Syllabus by the Court

       Absent a clear expression of legislative intent, a conviction under a city ordinance cannot be used as a basis for an enhanced penalty for a subsequent violation of a similarly worded state statute.

       Janine Cox, Assistant Appellate Defender, and Jessica R. Kunen, Chief Appellate Defender, for appellant.

Page 648

       Gary L. Foiles, Assistant County Attorney, Rodney H. Symmonds, County Attorney, and Carla J. Stovall, Attorney General, for appellee.

       Before BRAZIL, C.J., and PIERRON and ROYSE, JJ.

       PIERRON, Judge.

       Jimmie D. Gray was convicted of the April 2, 1994, theft of property of a value of under $500. This charge was enhanced to a felony because of Gray's two prior municipal court convictions for theft. The municipal ordinance violated by Gray defined theft in the same manner as the applicable statute, K.S.A.1993 Supp. 21-3701.

       Effective July 1, 1993, the legislature amended K.S.A. 21-3701 by deleting the following paragraph:

       "Conviction of a violation of a municipal ordinance prohibiting acts which constitute theft ... shall be considered a conviction of theft for the purpose of determining the number of prior convictions and the classification of the crime under this section." See L.1992, ch. 298, § 39.

       On appeal, Gray contends that because of the 1992 amendment, the municipal conviction should not have been used to enhance his crime to a felony. He further argues that the criminal statute must be strictly construed against the State. The State maintains there is no need for construction of K.S.A.1993 Supp. 21-3701 because it is not ambiguous and that the paragraph in issue was deleted not out of a desire to change the law, but because the language was surplusage.

       Absent a clear expression of legislative intent, a conviction under a city ordinance cannot be used as a basis for an enhanced penalty for a subsequent violation of a similarly worded state statute. State v. Dunn, 21 Kan.App.2d 359, 363, 900 P.2d 245 (1995). The applicable statute contains no statement concerning the use or consideration of municipal theft convictions. The absence of any reference at all cannot be considered a clear expression of legislative intent. It was error for Gray's municipal convictions to be used to enhance his crime to a felony.

       Sentence vacated and case remanded.


Summaries of

State v. Gray

Court of Appeals of Kansas
Sep 27, 1996
22 Kan. App. 2 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996)
Case details for

State v. Gray

Case Details

Full title:STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. JIMMIE D. GRAY, Appellant

Court:Court of Appeals of Kansas

Date published: Sep 27, 1996

Citations

22 Kan. App. 2 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996)
22 Kan. App. 2
22 Kan. App. 2d 875