State of Louisiana Versus Jontreal A. Fisher

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 19-KA-533

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

JONTREAL A. FISHER COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 18-979, DIVISION "C"
HONORABLE JUNE B. DARENSBURG, JUDGE PRESIDING

June 24, 2020

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY
CHIEF JUDGE

Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy,
Fredericka Homberg Wicker, and Jude G. Gravois

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED; SENTENCES ON COUNTS ONE AND
THREE AFFIRMED; SENTENCES ON COUNTS TWO AND FOUR
VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.
SMC
FHW
JGG

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE,
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr.
Thomas J. Butler
Gail D. Schlosser
Tucker H. Wimberly

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT,
JONTREAL A. FISHER
Prentice L. White

CHEHARDY, C.J.

Defendant, Jontreal A. Fisher, appeals his convictions and sentences for four

counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, alprazolam and

methamphetamines, respectively. After a thorough review of the record,

defendant’s convictions are affirmed, defendant’s sentences on counts one and

three are affirmed, defendant’s sentences on counts two and four are vacated, and

the matter is remanded for resentencing.

Procedural History

On March 13, 2018, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney filed a bill of

information charging defendant, Jontreal A. Fisher, with possession with intent to

distribute heroin, a violation of La. R.S. 40:966(A) (count one), possession with

intent to distribute cocaine weighing less than twenty-eight grams, a violation of

La. R.S. 40:967(A) (count two), possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, a

violation of La. R.S. 40:969(A) (count three), and possession with intent to

distribute methamphetamine weighing less than twenty-eight grams, a violation of

La. R.S. 40:967(A) (count four). Defendant was arraigned on that same date and

pled not guilty.

On July 16, 2018, defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence that was

denied after a hearing on July 25, 2018. On April 22, 2019, defendant withdrew

his not guilty pleas and pled guilty as charged on all four counts. Later, on that

same date, the trial court sentenced defendant to twenty years imprisonment at hard

labor on count one, twenty years imprisonment at hard labor on count two, ten

years imprisonment at hard labor on count three, and twenty years imprisonment at

hard labor on count four, with the sentences to run concurrently. The trial court

also ordered the sentences to run concurrently with the sentences imposed in case

numbers 18-270, 18-5271, 18-5356, and any other sentence defendant was

19-KA-533 1

currently serving. On April 29, 2019, defendant filed a pro se pleading entitled,

“Ineffective of Counsel for Failures to Investigate Insanity Defense.” Thereafter,

on May 10, 2019, defendant filed a pro se motion to appeal that was granted on

May 15, 2019.

Factual Background

Because defendant pled guilty, the underlying facts of this matter were not

fully developed at a trial. Nevertheless, the State alleged in the bill of information

that on or about February 1, 2018, defendant violated La. R.S. 40:966(A) in that he

did knowingly or intentionally possess with the intent to distribute heroin (count

one), violated La. R.S. 40:967(A) in that he did knowingly or intentionally possess

with the intent to distribute cocaine weighing less than twenty-eight grams (count

two), violated La. R.S. 40:969(A) in that he did knowingly or intentionally possess

with the intent to distribute alprazolam (count three), and violated La. R.S.

40:967(A) in that he did knowingly or intentionally possess with the intent to

distribute methamphetamine weighing less than twenty-eight grams (count four).

Additionally, during the colloquy, the State presented the following factual

basis:

In case number 18-979, had this matter proceeded
to trial, the State of Louisiana would have proven beyond
a reasonable doubt, that the defendant, Jontreal Fisher, on
or about February 1st, 2018 violated Louisiana Revise
[sic] Statute 40:966(A), and that he did knowingly and
intentionally possess with intent to distribute a control
[sic] dangerous substance, to wit Heroin.
Further, that the defendant, Jontreal Fisher, on or
about February 1st, 2018, violated Louisiana Revise [sic]
Statute 40:967(A), and that he did knowingly or
intentionally possess with intent to distribute a control
[sic] dangerous substance, to wit Cocaine weighing less
than 28 grams,
Further, that the defendant, Jontreal Fisher, on or
about February 1st, 2018, violated Louisiana Revise [sic]
Statute 40:969(A), and that he knowingly and
intentionally possess with intent to distribute a control
[sic] dangerous substance, to wit Alprazolam.

19-KA-533 2

And count four, that the defendant, Jontreal Fisher,
on or about February 1st, 2018, violated Louisiana Revise
[sic] Statute 40:967(A), and that he did knowingly and
intentionally possess with intent to distribute a control
[sic] dangerous substance, to wit Methamphetamine,
weighing less than 28 grams.
These offense, all these offenses occurred in
Jefferson Parish.
Assignment of Error

In his sole assignment of error on appeal, defendant avers the trial court

committed reversible error when it denied defendant’s motion to suppress

evidence.

Law and Discussion

In support of his contention that the trial court erred in denying his motion to

suppress, defendant claims that Detective Cory Himel of the Jefferson Parish

Sheriff’s Office (“JPSO”), Narcotics Division, received information from a

confidential informant that defendant would be driving a black Chevy Cruise, and

carrying large quantities of illegal drugs to a specific location in Jefferson Parish.

Thereafter, when Detective Himel observed defendant driving a black Chevy

Cruise to the previously identified location, he initiated an investigatory stop

without having sufficient probable cause to believe that defendant was in

possession of illegal drugs. According to defendant, Detective Himel surrounded

his vehicle, thereby preventing defendant from leaving the scene. Thereafter, as

defendant opened the door to his vehicle, Detective Himel proceeded to search the

vehicle and allegedly found illegal drugs. Defendant contends that the officers

conducting the investigatory stop of his vehicle did so without probable cause to

suggest that defendant was engaged in criminal activity or was in possession of

illegal drugs. Further, defendant argues that there was no suggestion that any

exigent circumstances existed that could obviate the need for a valid search

warrant.

19-KA-533 3

Defendant argues that the officer’s illegal search of his vehicle was a

violation of his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and

seizures and, as such, the trial court committed reversible error by refusing to

suppress the items illegally seized from his vehicle. Further, due to the alleged

violation of his Fourth Amendment rights, defendant argues that his arrest,

charges, and convictions for illegal drug possession and distribution should be

reversed. We disagree.

The record shows that defendant, who was represented by counsel, did not

enter a qualified guilty plea under State v. Crosby, 338 So.2d 584, 588 (La. 1976),

and thus, failed to preserve the issue involving the trial court’s denial of his motion

to suppress for appeal. Moreover, defendant does not challenge the validity of his

guilty plea.

When a defendant pleads guilty, he normally waives all non-jurisdictional

defects in the proceedings leading up to the guilty plea and precludes review of

such defects either by appeal or post-conviction relief. State v. Aguilar, 14-714

(La. App. 5 Cir. 1/14/15), 167 So.3d 862, 865. However, a defendant may be

allowed appellate review if at the time he enters a guilty plea, he expressly reserves

his right to appeal a specific adverse ruling in the case. Crosby, supra; State v.

Landry, 02-1242 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/29/03), 845 So.2d 1233, 1236, writ denied, 03-

1684 (La. 12/19/03), 861 So.2d 556.

In the present case, our review of the record reveals that the trial court

conducted a Boykin colloquy with defendant and explained to him the rights he

was waiving by pleading guilty. During the guilty plea proceedings, defendant did

not reserve any rights to appeal pretrial rulings of the trial court prior to pleading

guilty. Consequently, because defendant entered unqualified guilty pleas, we find

that defendant waived all non-jurisdictional defects in the proceedings that

occurred prior to his guilty pleas and no rulings were reserved for appeal under

19-KA-533 4

Crosby, supra, including the trial court’s prior ruling on defendant’s motion to

suppress. See State v. Nellon, 18-385 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/19/18), 262 So.3d 441,

444 (citing State v. Nelson, 17-650 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/23/18), 248 So.2d 683, 688;

State v. Turner, 10-995 (La. App. 5 Cir. 9/27/11), 75 So.3d 491, 492, writ denied,

11-2379 (La. 4/27/12), 86 So.3d 625; Landry, supra).1 Accordingly, because

defendant failed to preserve review of the denial of his motion to suppress, he is

not entitled to the relief he seeks.

Errors Patent Discussion

The record was reviewed for errors patent, according to La. C.Cr.P. art. 920;

State v. Oliveaux, 312 So.2d 337 (La. 1975); and State v. Weiland, 556 So.2d 175

(La. App. 5 Cir. 1990). We note two errors requiring corrective action.

A review of the record reveals that although defendant was correctly

informed of the sentencing ranges for the offenses on counts one and three, the trial

court incorrectly advised defendant of the sentencing ranges on count two,

possession with intent to distribute cocaine weighing less than twenty-eight grams

in violation of La. R.S. 40:967(A), and count four, possession with intent to

distribute methamphetamine weighing less than twenty eight grams in violation of

La. R.S. 40:967(A). Specifically, the court advised defendant that the penalty

range for counts two and four, respectively, was ten to thirty years at hard labor.

However, La. R.S. 40:967(B)(1)(a) provides that an individual who is convicted of

possession with intent to distribute cocaine weighing less than twenty-eight grams

(count two), and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine weighing

less than twenty-eight grams (count four), shall be imprisoned, with or without

hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years. Here, on counts two

and four, the trial court sentenced defendant to imprisonment at hard labor for

1
Defendant’s sentences were imposed in accordance with the plea agreement with the State. Of
significance, as a part of the plea agreement, the State agreed not to file a multiple offender bill against
him, which resulted in a substantial sentencing benefit to defendant.

19-KA-533 5

twenty years, respectively. Consequently, we find defendant received an illegal

sentence on both counts two and four as he was sentenced to ten years more than

the terms allowed by law.

Pursuant to La. C.Cr.P. art. 882, an appellate court is authorized to correct an

illegal sentence at any time, when the exercise of sentencing discretion is not

involved. State v. Mason, 10-284 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1/11/11), 59 So.3d 419, 430,

writ denied, 11-306 (La. 6/24/11), 64 So.3d 216. In light of the discretion

permitted by the statute, we vacate defendant’s sentences on counts two and four

and remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing. See La. C.Cr.P. art.

881.4(A); see also State v. Smith, 18-142 (La. App. 5 Cir. 8/29/18), 253 So.3d

1314, 1321; State v. Brown, 17-346 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/13/17), 234 So.3d 1134,

1137-38.

We decline to address any errors noted in the State of Louisiana Uniform

Commitment Order, because the trial court will prepare a new Uniform

Commitment Order after re-sentencing on counts two and four.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s convictions are affirmed; defendant’s

sentences on counts one and three are affirmed; defendant’s sentences on counts

two and four are vacated and the matter is remanded for resentencing.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED; SENTENCES ON COUNTS ONE AND
THREE AFFIRMED; SENTENCES ON COUNTS TWO AND FOUR
VACATED; REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING.

19-KA-533 6

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

MARY E. LEGNON
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN BUCHHOLZ
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
HANS J. LILJEBERG
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
JUNE 24, 2020 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT
REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

19-KA-533
E-NOTIFIED
24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
HONORABLE JUNE B. DARENSBURG (DISTRICT JUDGE)
THOMAS J. BUTLER (APPELLEE) GAIL D. SCHLOSSER (APPELLEE)

MAILED
PRENTICE L. WHITE (APPELLANT) HONORABLE PAUL D. CONNICK, JR.
ATTORNEY AT LAW (APPELLEE)
LOUISIANA APPELLATE PROJECT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
POST OFFICE BOX 74385 TUCKER H. WIMBERLY (APPELLEE)
BATON ROUGE, LA 70874 ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
200 DERBIGNY STREET
GRETNA, LA 70053