Opinion
20-02-15828; A121454.
Submitted on record and briefs June 20, 2005.
Sentences vacated; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed July 27, 2005.
Appeal from Circuit Court, Lane County.
Jack A. Billings, Judge.
Erin Galli Rohr and Chilton, Ebbett Rohr, LLC filed the brief for appellant.
Hardy Myers, Attorney General, Mary H. Williams, Solicitor General, and Jonathan H. Fussner, Attorney-In-Charge, filed the brief for respondent.
PER CURIAM
Sentences vacated; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.
Defendant was convicted on five counts of sodomy in the third degree. ORS 163.385. The trial court imposed upward durational departure sentences on each conviction based on findings of unusual vulnerability of the victim and harm to the victim beyond what is ordinarily contemplated by the sentencing guidelines. The court also imposed consecutive sentences on three of the counts.
On appeal, defendant challenges only his sentences. He first argues that, under Blakely v. Washington, 542 US 296, 124 S Ct 2531, 159 L Ed 2d 403 (2004), and Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 US 466, 120 S Ct 2348, 147 L Ed 2d 435 (2000), the court erred in imposing departure sentences based on facts that defendant did not admit and that the court did not submit to a jury. He concedes that he did not advance such a challenge to the trial court, but argues that the sentences should be reviewed as plain error. The state concedes that, under our decisions in State v. Gornick, 196 Or App 397, 102 P3d 734 (2004), rev allowed, 338 Or 583 (2005), and State v. Perez, 196 Or App 364, 102 P3d 705 (2004), rev allowed, 388 Or 488 (2005), the sentences are plainly erroneous. We accept the state's concession and, for the reasons discussed in those cases, exercise our discretion to correct the error.
Defendant also argues that the imposition of consecutive sentences likewise runs afoul of Blakely and Apprendi and is plain error. We rejected the same argument in State v. Fuerte-Coria, 196 Or App 170, 100 P3d 773 (2004), rev den, 338 Or 16 (2005).
Sentences vacated; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.