State of Louisiana v. Charles Soileau

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

13-772

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

CHARLES D. SOILEAU

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APPEAL FROM THE
THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF EVANGELINE, NO. 93241-F
HONORABLE JOHN L. VIDRINE, DISTRICT JUDGE

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MARC T. AMY
JUDGE

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Court composed of Marc T. Amy, Billy Howard Ezell, and John E. Conery, Judges.

SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY SENTENCE VACATED
AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING. SIMPLE BURGLARY AND
THEFT OF $1500 OR GREATER SENTENCES AFFIRMED.

Edward K. Bauman
Louisiana Appellate Project
Post Office Box 1641
Lake Charles, LA 70602-1641
(337) 491-0570
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Charles Soileau

Trent Brignac
District Attorney
Julhelene E. Jackson
Assistant District Attorney
Post Office Box 780
Ville Platte, LA 70586
(337) 363-3438
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

AMY, Judge.

The defendant pled guilty to multiple offenses in connection with a burglary

in Evangeline Parish. The trial court sentenced the defendant to ten years at hard

labor for the defendant’s simple burglary conviction, eight years at hard labor for

his theft of $1,500 or greater conviction, and two years at hard labor for his simple

criminal damage less than $500 conviction. The trial court ordered that all of the

defendant’s sentences run concurrently with each other and with his other pending

cases, but consecutively to the defendant’s probation and parole revocations. The

defendant now appeals. For the following reasons, we vacate the defendant’s

sentence for simple criminal damage less than $500, remand for resentencing on

that charge, and affirm the defendant’s remaining sentences.

Factual and Procedural Background

The defendant, Charles Soileau, was arrested in connection with several

burglaries in Evangeline Parish, which resulted in multiple charges under several

docket numbers, including the charges at issue herein. With regard to the instant

charges, the defendant pled guilty to simple burglary, a violation of La.R.S. 14:62;

theft of $1,500 or greater, a violation of La.R.S. 14:67(B)(1); and simple criminal

damage to property less than $500, a violation of La.R.S. 14:56(B)(1).

The trial court subsequently imposed sentence. For the defendant’s simple

burglary conviction, the trial court imposed a sentence of ten years. For the

defendant’s theft of $1,500 or greater conviction, the trial court imposed a sentence

of eight years. For the defendant’s simple criminal damage to property less than

$500 conviction, the trial court imposed a sentence of two years. The trial court

ordered that all of the defendant’s sentences be served at hard labor and that they

be served concurrently with each other and with the defendant’s other current

offenses. 1 However, the trial court ordered that the defendant’s sentences be

imposed consecutively to his parole and probation revocations.

The defendant appeals, asserting that his sentence is unconstitutionally

excessive.

Discussion

Errors Patent

Pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all criminal appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. Our error patent review reveals one error

which requires correction concerning the defendant’s sentence for simple criminal

damage to property less than $500. Simple criminal damage to property less than

$500 is punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, a fine of not

more than $1,000, or both. La.R.S. 14:56(B)(1). The record indicates that the trial

court sentenced the defendant to two years at hard labor on this conviction, which

exceeds the maximum penalty allowable under La.R.S. 14:56(B)(1). An appellate

court may correct an illegal sentence pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. art. 882.

However, if correcting the illegal sentence involves the exercise of sentencing

discretion, the appellate court must remand the matter to the trial court. State v.

Jacobs, 08-702 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/4/09), 2 So.3d 1289. Accordingly, we vacate the

defendant’s sentence for simple criminal damage to property less than $500 and

remand the matter to the trial court for resentencing.

Excessive Sentence

The defendant contends that his sentences are unconstitutionally excessive.

Our review of the record reveals that the defendant did not file a motion to

1
The defendant’s sentences in those matters are on appeal in State v. Charles Soileau,
13-770 (La.App. 3 Cir. _/_/_), __ So.3d __, and State v. Charles Soileau, 13-771 (La.App. 3 Cir.
_/_/_), __ So.3d __.

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reconsider sentence nor did he orally object to the sentences imposed at the

sentencing hearing. Thus, review of the defendant’s sentences is limited to

whether the sentences imposed are unconstitutionally excessive. State v. Casimer,

12-678 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/13/13), 113 So.3d 1129.

Both the United States and Louisiana constitutions guarantee that no person

shall be subject to cruel and unusual punishment. U.S. Const. amend. VIII; La.

Const. art. I, § 20. A sentence is excessive when a reviewing court finds that the

penalty is “so grossly disproportionate to the severity of the crime as to shock our

sense of justice or that the sentence makes no measurable contribution to

acceptable penal goals and is, therefore, nothing more than a needless imposition

of pain and suffering.” State v. Barling, 00-1241, 00-1591, p. 12 (La.App. 3 Cir.

1/31/01), 779 So.2d 1035, 1042, writ denied, 01-838 (La. 2/1/02), 808 So.2d 331.

The trial court has broad sentencing discretion, and a sentence within statutory

limits will not be set aside absent a manifest abuse of that discretion. State v.

Etienne, 99-192 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/13/99), 746 So.2d 124, writ denied, 00-165

(La. 6/30/00), 765 So.2d 1067. However, sentences within the statutory sentencing

range can be reviewed for constitutional excessiveness. State v. Sepulvado, 367

So.2d 762 (La.1979).

In reviewing the defendant’s sentences, the appellate court should consider

the nature of the crime, the nature and background of the offender, and the

sentences imposed for similar crimes. State v. Lisotta, 98-648 (La.App. 5 Cir.

12/16/98), 726 So.2d 57 (citing State v. Telsee, 425 So.2d 1251 (La.1983)), writ

denied, 99-433 (La. 6/25/99), 745 So.2d 1183. In State v. Smith, 02-719, p. 4

(La.App. 3 Cir. 2/12/03), 846 So.2d 786, 789, writ denied, 03-562 (La. 5/30/03),

845 So.2d 1061, a panel of this court observed that:

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While a comparison of sentences imposed for similar crimes may
provide some insight, “it is well settled that sentences must be
individualized to the particular offender and to the particular offense
committed.” State v. Batiste, 594 So.2d 1 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1991).
Additionally, it is within the purview of the trial court to particularize
the sentence because the trial judge “remains in the best position to
assess the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented by each
case.” State v. Cook, 95-2784 (La. 5/31/96); 674 So.2d 957, 958.

The record indicates that the defendant’s offenses stem from the burglary of

Pamela Beecher’s home. At the defendant’s plea hearing, the State indicated that

the defendant and his accomplices entered Ms. Beecher’s home, causing damage.

The State also stated that the defendant stole jewelry, including a diamond bridal

ring and a laptop. At the sentencing hearing, Ms. Beecher indicated that her

heirloom jewelry had not been recovered and that it is irreplaceable.

At the time of his guilty plea, the defendant was twenty-nine years old.

According to the defendant, he started using drugs when he was twelve years old

and, after attending several treatment programs, stopped using drugs when he was

twenty-four years old. The defendant stated that he began using drugs, including

Xanax and methadone, again after he was involved in a “bad wreck.” The record

indicates that the defendant is married, has three children, and worked regularly

until his 2010 conviction for distribution of Schedule II narcotics. Further,

although the defendant dropped out of school in the seventh grade, he has since

completed his GED.

The pre-sentence investigation ordered by the trial court indicates that the

defendant has a juvenile record and several prior adult felony convictions. In

2005, the defendant pled guilty to simple burglary and theft greater than $500. For

those convictions, the defendant was sentenced to three years hard labor on each

count, to run concurrently. However, his term of imprisonment was suspended and

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he was placed on three years supervised probation. The record indicates that the

defendant successfully completed his probation and received a first offender

pardon. In 2010, the defendant was convicted of distribution of Schedule II

narcotics and was sentenced to ten years at hard labor. Seven years of that term of

imprisonment were suspended, and the defendant was placed on five years active

probation upon his release from incarceration. The defendant was placed on parole

in 2011. However, the defendant’s parole was revoked in February of 2012 and

his probation was revoked in March of 2012 on the basis that he remained

criminally active, failed to comply with substance abuse treatment, and failed to

pay his supervision fees.

The defendant’s sentence for simple criminal damage to property less than

$500 has been addressed above. The defendant pled guilty to simple burglary, a

violation of La.R.S. 14:62. Simple burglary is punishable by a fine of not more

than $2,000, imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than twelve

years, or both. La.R.S. 14:62(B). The defendant was sentenced to ten years at

hard labor for this conviction. In State v. Burns, 32,904 (La.App. 2 Cir. 2/1/00),

750 So.2d 505, the second circuit upheld a ten-year sentence for simple burglary

where the defendant had two prior felony convictions, including one for attempted

simple burglary, and had previously had his probation revoked. See also State v.

Stanfield, 10-854 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1/19/11), 56 So.3d 428, writ denied, 11-266 (La.

6/3/11), 63 So.3d 1007.

The defendant also pled guilty to theft of $1,500 or greater, a violation of

La.R.S. 14:67. 2 Theft of $1,500 or greater is punishable by imprisonment with or

2
We note that the sentencing exposure and classifications in La.R.S. 14:67 were
amended by the legislature in 2010. See 2010 La. Acts 585.

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without hard labor for not more than ten years, a fine of not more than $3,000, or

both. La.R.S. 14:67(B)(1). The defendant was sentenced to eight years at hard

labor for this conviction. Maximum or near-maximum sentences are reserved for

the worst offenders. State v. Fontenot, 09-624 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/9/09), 25 So.3d

225. In State v. Brown, 09-10 (La.App. 1 Cir. 9/11/09) (unpublished opinion), the

first circuit upheld maximum sentences for theft greater than $500 and attempted

theft greater than $500 where the defendant was a third-felony offender who, along

with her accomplices, shop-lifted multiple items from a busy store and fled to

avoid capture.

Based on our review of the record, we find that the defendant’s sentences are

not excessive. The defendant has prior felony convictions for simple burglary,

theft, and distribution of Schedule II narcotics. Further, the record indicates the

defendant was on parole and/or probation at the time of the instant offenses, which

were committed less than six months after the defendant’s release from prison.

Additionally, at the time of his guilty plea for the charges herein, the defendant

was awaiting sentencing on several similar charges. Although the trial court

sentenced the defendant to maximum or near-maximum penalties, we note that the

defendant received a significant reduction in the total maximum penalty because

the trial court ordered that his sentences be served concurrently with each other and

with his other pending offenses.

This assignment of error is without merit.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, the defendant, Charles Soileau’s, sentence for

simple criminal damage to property less than $500 is vacated and the matter is

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remanded to the trial court for resentencing. The defendant’s remaining sentences

for simple burglary and theft of $1500 or greater are affirmed.

SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY SENTENCE VACATED
AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING. SIMPLE BURGLARY AND
THEFT OF $1500 OR GREATER SENTENCES AFFIRMED.

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