State v. William J. Church
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2003 WI 74 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: OF WISCONSIN 01-3100-CR COMPLETE TITLE: State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. William J. Church, Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 2002 WI App 212 Reported at: 257 Wis. 2d 442, 650 N.W.2d 873 (Ct. App. 2002-Published) OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: February 13, 2003 SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: Circuit Dane Sarah B. O'Brien July 1, 2003 JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: ATTORNEYS: For the defendant-appellant-petitioner there were briefs and oral argument by James L. Fullin, assistant state public defender. For the plaintiff-respondent the cause was argued by David J. Becker, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was James E. Doyle, attorney general. 2003 WI 74 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 01-3100-CR (L.C. No. 96 CF 1408) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT State of Wisconsin, FILED Plaintiff-Respondent, JUL 1, 2003 v. William J. Church, Cornelia G. Clark Clerk of Supreme Court Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner. REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. ¶1 DIANE S. SYKES, J. Reversed. The issue in this case is whether an increased sentence imposed upon the defendant following a successful appeal was presumptively vindictive, in violation of the defendant's right to due process, and, if so, whether the presumption was overcome by adequate, objective new factors in the record justifying the longer, post-appeal sentence. Under the circumstances here, we conclude that the longer sentence violated due process. ¶2 offenses: In 1996, a jury found William Church guilty of five second-degree sexual assault, child sexual exploitation, delivery of a controlled substance, and two counts No. of child dismiss enticement. one of Prior the two to sentencing, counts of Church child 01-3100-CR moved enticement multiplicitous, but the circuit court denied the motion. to as The court imposed a 13-year prison term on the sexual assault count and withheld sentence on the remaining counts, ordering probation terms of various lengths, consecutive to the prison sentence but concurrent to each other. arguing that the two child Church appealed, again enticement counts were multiplicitous. ¶3 two The court of appeals agreed, and reversed one of the child enticement counts. However, instead of simply vacating the conviction and the order of concurrent probation on one count of child enticement, the court of appeals vacated all the sentences in the case and remanded for resentencing on the four remaining counts, citing State v. Gordon, 111 Wis. 2d 133, 330 N.W.2d 564 (1983). On remand, the circuit court imposed 17 years on the sexual assault count, a four-year increase, and reimposed the terms of probation on the remaining three counts. The court of appeals affirmed. ¶4 We conclude that resentencing on convictions that remain intact after an appellate court reverses and vacates one or more counts in a multi-count case is not always required. Where, as here, the vacated count did not affect the overall dispositional scheme of the initial sentence, resentencing on the remaining counts is unnecessary and therefore not required. Here, however, Church himself requested resentencing as a remedy for the multiplicity of the child 2 enticement counts. Upon No. resentencing, he received more original dispositional scheme. than a 01-3100-CR reimposition of the We conclude that the increased sentence was presumptively vindictive, in violation of Church's right to due process, and that the presumption was not overcome by adequate, objective new factors in the record justifying the increase. I. ¶5 was FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY William J. Church, age 39, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charged in Dane counts: County second-degree Circuit Court sexual Wis. Stat. § 940.225(2)(d), sexual with assault five criminal contrary exploitation of a to child contrary to Wis. Stat. § 948.05(1)(a), delivery of a controlled substance (tetrahydrocannabinols-THC) to a minor contrary to Wis. Stat. § 961.41(h)(1), and two counts of child enticement contrary to Wis. Stat § 948.07 (1995-96).1 ¶6 All five counts stemmed from a calculated criminal episode in which Church arranged to take a 17-year-old boy from his church in Cedar Rapids to Wisconsin Dells, ostensibly for a brief vacation, gratification. but actually purposes of sexual En route to the Dells, Church and the victim checked into a motel in Madison. marijuana for cigarette and an prescription narcotic drug. There, Church gave the boy a alcoholic beverage laced with a When the boy fell asleep, Church sexually assaulted him and photographed his genitalia. 1 The boy All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 1995-1996 volumes unless otherwise indicated. 3 No. 01-3100-CR awoke during an act of sexual contact by Church, went to the lobby, called his pastor's house and then the police. A jury found Church guilty on all counts. ¶7 Before sentencing, Church moved to dismiss one of the two counts of child enticement on multiplicity grounds. The motion was denied. ¶8 At sentencing, the prosecution recommended a sentence totaling 33 years in prison. The circuit court, the Honorable Sarah B. O Brien, noted Church's educational background (some college), "solid employment history," stable family background, "strong circle of friends centering around his church," and lack of any criminal record. ¶9 On the other hand, the circuit court expressed concern about Church's "deceitful" behavior and the premeditation of the offense, which the "pretty chilling." failed to court take The any characterized circuit court responsibility as "cold-blooded" noted for that the Church offenses, and had and expressed concern about the "ample reason to suspect that Mr. Church would reoffend" based on evidence of his "grooming behavior" with this victim and other boys. In this regard, the circuit of court took note of a collection photos of nude children and explicit notes in the defendant's handwriting that had been found at his home. The circuit court sentenced Church to 13 years in prison on the second-degree sexual assault count. Sentence was withheld on the other counts in favor of probation terms as follows: ten years on the sexual exploitation count, six years on the delivery of THC count, and 24 years each on the 4 No. 01-3100-CR two counts of enticement, all consecutive to the prison term but concurrent to each other. ¶10 court of Church appealed appeals on reversed the one enticement as multiplicitous. 665, 589 N.W.2d "disposition Church's 638 would prison App. in sentence of the two issue, counts and of the child State v. Church, 223 Wis. 2d 641, (Ct. not, multiplicity 1998).2 itself, or of Noting affect his the that its duration subsequent term of of supervision," the court of appeals nevertheless concluded that it "must vacate all sentences imposed for each of Church's four remaining convictions, and remand for re-sentencing on one count each of second-degree sexual assault, child enticement, sexual exploitation of a child, and delivery of THC to a minor." Church, 223 Wis. 2d at 665-66 (citing Gordon, 111 Wis. 2d at 146). ¶11 On presentence indicated remand, the investigation that Church circuit court report (PSI). had been ordered The incarcerated an updated updated at PSI Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin from May to October of 1997 and in the county jail in Titus, Texas, from October 1997 through May 2000. In May of 2000, Church was transferred back to Dodge Correctional. 2 We initially granted the State's petition to review the court of appeals' decision regarding the multiplicity of the two child enticement charges, but later dismissed the petition as improvidently granted after the State changed its position and conceded multiplicity. See State v. Church, 2000 WI 90, 236 Wis. 2d 755, 613 N.W.2d 848. 5 No. ¶12 01-3100-CR In July of 1998 and again in January of 1999, the Program Review Committee recommended that Church remain in Texas rather than transfer to another facility. while in attended Texas, church conduct. Church services, During resentencing, was his Church and four was assigned had years not The PRC reported that as an a kitchen trustee, "excellent" of incarceration of record prior to involved in any sex offender treatment programs. ¶13 At the resentencing hearing, Dr. Margaret Alexander, Clinical Director of the Sex Offender Treatment Program at the Oshkosh Correctional treatment in prison Institution, typically testified lasts for that four sex offender years and implemented as an inmate approaches his date of release. Alexander explained the rationale for deferring sex is Dr. offender treatment until the end of an inmate's sentence as follows: The idea is that they finish the program and make a transition back to the community without spending further time in [criminal] populations where some of the new found skills and habits would stand a large possibility of getting erased. ¶14 Further testimony established that sex offender treatment is usually not appropriate until an offender is no longer in denial. There was no evidence that Church would have been admitted into sex offender treatment during the four years of incarceration prior to his resentencing. Sex offender treatment was not available at the Titus, Texas, facility. ¶15 Church argued for the same prison sentence and probation that was previously imposed on the four counts that 6 No. remained after his successful appeal. 01-3100-CR For the first time, he expressed some remorse and a desire to seek treatment. The prosecution again asked for a prison sentence totaling 33 years. The circuit court imposed a prison sentence of 17 years on the sexual assault count, an increase of four years, followed by the same probationary terms as originally imposed on the remaining three counts. The circuit court justified the increase as follows: I feel that we are in exactly the same position we were in when Mr. Church sat before me almost four years ago . . . The offense remains just as serious, the character of the defendant has not changed in any way, the protection of the public remains a very serious concern. The only thing that has changed is nearly four years have passed and Mr. Church . . . [has today] made his first step towards admitting responsibility and seeking help for his very significant problems. I feel that those four years have been wasted and that to impose the same sentence today would in effect give Mr. Church credit for spending the last four years without acknowledging his offense and without doing anything to obtain treatment. ¶16 denied. Church moved 442, sentence modification, which was He appealed, and the court of appeals affirmed the increased sentence. 2d for 650 N.W.2d State v. Church, 2002 WI App 212, 257 Wis. 873. We granted Church's petition for review, and now reverse. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW ¶17 Whether an increased sentence imposed upon a defendant after a successful appeal violates a defendant's right to due process under the federal and state constitutions is a question of law that we review de novo. State v. Sorenson, 2002 WI 78, 7 No. 01-3100-CR ¶25, 254 Wis. 2d 54, 646 N.W.2d 354 ("Due process determinations are questions of law that we decide de novo."). See also State v. Carter, 208 Wis. 2d 142, 146 n.1, 560 N.W.2d 256 (1997)(de novo review of proper resentencing considerations); State v. Martin, 121 Wis. 2d 670, 673, 360 N.W.2d 43 (1985). III. ANALYSIS ¶18 the This case presents two issues for review: (1) whether court of appeals was required to remand this case for resentencing on all remaining counts after reversing one of the multiplicitous child enticement counts; and (2) whether the circuit court's increased sentence was presumptively vindictive, in violation of Church s right to due process, and, if so, whether the presumption was overcome by adequate, objective new factors in the record justifying the harsher sentence. A. Remand for Resentencing ¶19 On the multiplicitous child enticement counts, Church received concurrent 24-year probation terms, consecutive to the prison term on the sexual assault count. Rather than simply vacating one of the two counts of child enticement held to be multiplicitous and remanding for a corresponding amendment to the judgment of conviction, the court of appeals vacated all remaining sentences in the case and remanded for resentencing. Church, 223 Wis. 2d at 665-66. court's decision surviving counts. ¶20 as in Id. Gordon The court of appeals cited this as requiring resentencing on the We disagree. In Gordon, the defendant was convicted and sentenced follows: kidnapping, 15 years; 8 robbery, eight years No. 01-3100-CR concurrent; burglary, eight years concurrent; and second-degree murder, 15 years consecutive. The defendant appealed, Gordon, 111 Wis. 2d at 134-35. alleging that the conviction and sentence for kidnapping, which was the predicate felony for the second-degree murder conviction, violated double jeopardy. Id. at for 135. We kidnapping as concluded well that as the conviction second-degree and murder sentence predicated upon kidnapping violated double jeopardy, and vacated the kidnapping count. Id. at 146. However, we also summarily vacated the sentences on the surviving counts: "The sentence for seconddegree murder, robbery, and burglary must also be vacated and the case remanded for resentencing on all charges." Id. (citing State v. Morris, 108 Wis. 2d 282, 290, 322 N.W.2d 264 (1982); Robinson v. State, 102 Wis. 2d 343, 356, 306 N.W.2d 668 (1981); State v. Upchurch, 101 Wis. 2d 329, 335-36, 305 N.W.2d 57 (1981); Ronzani v. State, 24 Wis. 2d 512, 520, 129 N.W.2d 143 (1964)). ¶21 We did not further explain in Gordon the circumstances under which a remand for resentencing is required when one or more counts in a multi-count case is vacated on appeal, leaving other counts intact. It is clear, however, that the elimination on double jeopardy grounds of one of the four counts in Gordon disturbed the original sentence structure, which called for the defendant to serve a total of 30 years in prison. The two eight-year sentences for robbery and burglary were concurrent, but the two 15-year sentences for kidnapping and second-degree murder were consecutive. Vacating the kidnapping conviction and 9 No. 01-3100-CR sentence upset the overall sentencing structure, frustrating the intent of the original sentence. Remand for resentencing was necessary and appropriate, to allow for a restructuring of the remaining sentences to carry out the intent of the original dispositional scheme. ¶22 Remand for resentencing in Gordon was supported by the precedent cited in the case. In Morris, 108 Wis. 2d 282, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to two and one-half years for armed identity. robbery and two years consecutive for concealing We held that concealing identity was not a separate offense, but, rather, a penalty enhancer, and therefore the two sentences double for what jeopardy. resentencing, we was a Id. at invoked single, 283. our enhanced offense, In ordering decision a a year violated remand for earlier in Robinson, 102 Wis. 2d at 356, which had also involved separate sentences for armed robbery and concealing identity: In Robinson this court said: "Accordingly, rather than attempting to infer at the appellate level what sentence the trial court would have imposed had it proceeded on the proper assumption that concealing identity aggravates armed robbery but does not stand as a separate substantive offense, we conclude that the trial court is the proper court to resentence the defendant under a correct application of the law. We therefore vacate the judgment of conviction for concealing identity, vacate both sentences as imposed, and remand to the trial court for resentencing on the conviction of armed robbery, under circumstances where identity was concealed." Morris, 108 Wis. 2d at 290 n.5 (quoting Robinson, 102 Wis. 2d at 356). 10 No. ¶23 01-3100-CR Similarly, in Upchurch, 101 Wis. 2d 329, we concluded that separate, consecutive one-year sentences for possession of a controlled substance and habitual criminality violated double jeopardy, because the repeater statute was a penalty enhancer, not a separate offense. Id. at 335. We remanded for resentencing on the single, enhanced offense in order not to frustrate the (holding that intent a of the contrary original result sentence. would "tend Id. to at 336 make the sentencing proceeding a game wherein a misstatement by the trial judge would result in a windfall to the defendant"). ¶24 convicted (then Also, in Ronzani, 24 Wis. 2d 512, the defendant was of also attempted known as armed felony robbery and murder), third-degree predicated murder upon the attempted armed robbery, and sentenced to 15 years on the felony murder count, and ten years consecutive on the attempted armed robbery count. We concluded that the conviction and sentence on the attempted armed robbery count was error because attempted armed robbery was a lesser-included offense of third-degree felony murder predicated on the attempted armed robbery. 519. Id. at We remanded for resentencing because the reversal of the attempted armed robbery count disturbed the structure of the overall sentence: We have determined to remand for resentencing because the original sentence of Ronzani for third-degree murder may reflect the trial court's erroneous conclusion that a consecutive sentence could also be given for the attempted armed robbery. Ronzani, 24 Wis. 2d at 520. 11 No. ¶25 We have never held, however, that 01-3100-CR remand for resentencing is always required, even where the vacated count in a multi-count case has no affect whatsoever sentence structure, as is the case here. on the overall The court of appeals correctly noted our overstatement and under-explanation of the "Ronzani-Gordon" line of cases in Martin, 121 Wis. 2d 670. The supreme court subsequently explained what it referred to as the "Ronzani-Gordon" line of cases in this way: The Ronzani-Gordon line of cases demonstrates that when a defendant is convicted of and sentenced for two offenses which are later held to be the same offense, and when one conviction and sentence is vacated on double jeopardy principles, the validity of both punishments is implicated, the sentences for both offenses are illegal, and resentencing on the valid conviction is permissible. State v. Martin, 121 Wis. 2d 670, 681, 360 N.W.2d 43 (1985). However, this explanation apparently overlooks the fact that the court in Gordon used this rationale to invalidate not only the sentence on the conviction that was the "same offense" for double jeopardy purposes, but also the sentences on the other, separate offenses, the convictions of which were not involved in the double jeopardy challenge. This analysis in Martin does not explain the reason for vacating the sentences on the convictions that are not involved in the double jeopardy challenge there is nothing invalid or illegal about them. Church, 257 Wis. 2d, ¶14 n.7. ¶26 in a A double jeopardy bar to one conviction and sentence multi-count case does not operate to invalidate the sentences on all the remaining counts, nor does it necessarily 12 No. 01-3100-CR invalidate the sentence on the specific surviving parallel count which gave rise to the double jeopardy challenge. The court of appeals was entirely correct that "there is nothing invalid or illegal" about the sentences on the counts that remain after a successful double jeopardy challenge. Martin and the Ronzani- Gordon line of cases hold that resentencing is procedurally and constitutionally permissible if the invalidation of one sentence on double jeopardy grounds disturbs the overall sentence structure or frustrates the intent of the original dispositional scheme. Martin, 121 Wis. 2d at 682. Resentencing is unnecessary, and certainly not required, where, as here, the invalidation of one count on double jeopardy grounds has no affect at all on the overall sentence structure. ¶27 As we have noted, however, Church himself requested resentencing as a enticement counts. remedy for multiplicity of the child He argued at resentencing for reimposition of the same overall sentence. years in prison. the Instead, he received four more But for his successful appeal, Church would be serving a 13-year sentence. Because of his successful appeal, he is now serving a 17-year sentence. B. Vindictiveness/Due Process ¶28 "To punish a person because he has done what the law plainly allows him to do is a due process violation 'of the most basic sort.'" (1982) (quoting United States v. Goodwin, Bordenkircher v. Hayes, (1978)). 13 457 434 U.S. U.S. 368, 372 357, 363 No. ¶29 01-3100-CR In North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 725 (1969), the United States Supreme Court held that "[d]ue process of law . . . requires that vindictiveness against a defendant for having successfully attacked his first conviction must play no part in the sentence he receives after a new trial." The Court further held that "since the fear of such vindictiveness may unconstitutionally deter a defendant's exercise of the right to appeal or collaterally attack his first conviction, due process also requires that a defendant be freed of apprehension of such a retaliatory motivation on the part of the sentencing judge." Id. ¶30 It is clear, then, that "[w]hile sentencing discretion permits consideration of a wide range of information relevant to the assessment of punishment," due process requires that "it must not be exercised with the purpose of punishing a successful appeal." Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794, 798 (1989)(citing Pearce, 395 U.S. at 723-725). ¶31 upon To protect defendants against due process violations resentencing, the Supreme Court in Pearce adopted following rule: In order to assure the absence of such a [vindictive] motivation, we have concluded that whenever a judge imposes a more severe sentence upon a defendant after a new trial, the reasons for his doing so must affirmatively appear. Those reasons must be based upon objective information concerning identifiable conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original sentencing proceeding. And the factual data upon which the increased sentence is based must be made part of the 14 the No. 01-3100-CR record, so that the constitutional legitimacy of the increased sentence may be fully reviewed on appeal. Pearce, 395 U.S. at 726. Because the defendant in each of the two cases at issue in Pearce had received a longer sentence after retrial without "any reason or justification" being offered "beyond the naked power to impose it," the Supreme Court concluded that the longer sentences violated due process. Id. at 726. ¶32 Justice White concurred in Pearce, stating he would "authorize an increased objective, identifiable sentence factual on data retrial not based known to on the any trial judge at the time of the original sentencing proceeding." at 757 (White, J., concurring). Id. This position departs somewhat from the Pearce majority, which appeared to limit the facts or information capable of justifying an increased sentence to "conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original sentencing." ¶33 broadly Id. at 726. The Pearce majority, however, also stated a bit more elsewhere in its analysis that a court "is not constitutionally precluded . . . from imposing a new sentence, whether greater or less than the original sentence, in the light of events subsequent to the first trial that may have thrown new light upon the defendant's 'life, health, habits, conduct, and mental and moral propensities.'" Id. at 723 (quoting Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241, 245 (1949)). "conduct occurring after" original sentencing seems The difference between and "events subtle, but 15 in subsequent any event, to" the Justice No. 01-3100-CR White clearly would have allowed a harsher sentence based upon any information not known to the trial judge at the time of the initial sentencing, whether it pertained to conduct or events occurring before or after the initial sentencing. ¶34 Later decisions of the Supreme Court have amplified the Pearce holding. In Goodwin, a case involving an allegation of prosecutorial rather than judicial vindictiveness, the Court characterized the vindictiveness, Pearce which may rule be as "a overcome presumption only by of objective information in the record justifying the increased sentence." Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 374. The Supreme Court explained in Goodwin that the presumption is necessary because "[m]otives are complex and difficult to prove." difficulty in proving that a Id. at 373. harsher Because of this sentence was actually motivated by vindictiveness, the Court stated that "in certain cases in which action detrimental to the defendant has been taken after the exercise of a legal right, the Court has found it necessary to 'presume' an improper vindictive motive." ¶35 Id. In Texas v. McCullough, 475 U.S. 134 (1986), the Court clarified that Pearce did not necessarily limit the scope of the information capable of overcoming the presumption to "'conduct or events that occurred subsequent to the original sentencing proceedings.'" Id. at 141 (quoting Wasman v. United States, 468 U.S. 572 (1984)). language . 559, "[t]his exhaustively all of . the The . Court was held never possible in McCullough intended to describe in which circumstances that a sentence increase could be justified. Restricting justifications 16 No. 01-3100-CR for a sentence increase to only 'events that occurred subsequent to the original circumstances McCullough sentencing lead found to no proceedings' absurd due results." process could Id. violation in The in some Court an in increased sentence after retrial where, in the second trial, unlike in the first, there was evidence that the defendant had actually committed the crime rather than merely aided and abetted it. Id. at 143. The McCullough holding was based in large part on ¶36 Wasman, in which the Court upheld an increased sentence after retrial based upon a new criminal conviction on an unrelated crime, where the new conviction was obtained after the first trial but arose out of conduct that occurred before the first trial. The Court conviction and that in the obtained sentencing held legitimate." a "[c]onsideration interim sentencing of between after retrial Wasman, 468 U.S. at 569-70. a criminal an is original manifestly The Court also stated that "[t]here is no logical support for a distinction between 'events' and 'conduct' of the defendant occurring after the initial sentencing insofar as the kind of information that may be relied upon to show a nonvindictive motive is concerned." Id. at 571-72. ¶37 The presumption Court does has not also apply to clarified every that instance the in Pearce which a defendant receives an increased sentence after successful postconviction proceedings. Smith, 490 U.S. at 799. Because automatic application of the presumption "may block a legitimate 17 No. 01-3100-CR response to criminal conduct," the Court has applied it "only in cases in exists." ¶38 which a reasonable likelihood of vindictiveness Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 373. Thus, in Smith, the Supreme Court held that the Pearce presumption does not apply to a longer sentence imposed after a trial where the defendant had first been convicted and sentenced on a negotiated guilty plea that was later reversed on appeal. Smith, 490 U.S. at 799. Pearce opinion appeared The Court explained that "[w]hile the on its face to announce a rule of sweeping dimension, [] subsequent cases have made clear that its presumption where a of vindictiveness convicted retrial.'" defendant 'does not receives apply a in higher every case sentence on Smith, 490 U.S. 799 (quoting Texas v. McCullough, 475 U.S. 134, 138 (1986)). Due process "is not offended by all possibilities of increased punishment upon retrial after appeal, but only by those 'vindictiveness.'" that pose a realistic likelihood of Id. at 800 n.3 (quoting Blackledge v. Perry, 417 U.S. 21, 27 (1974)). Furthermore, "a mere opportunity for vindictiveness is insufficient to justify the imposition of a prophylactic rule." Id. (citing Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 384, and Bordenkircher, 434 U.S. 357). ¶39 More specifically, in Smith, the Supreme Court explained the justification for and application of the Pearce presumption as follows: As we explained in Texas v. McCullough, "the evil the [Pearce] Court sought to prevent" was not the imposition of "enlarged sentences after a new trial" but "vindictiveness of a sentencing judge." Ibid. 18 No. 01-3100-CR See also Chaffin v. Stynchombe, 412 U.S. 17, 25 (1973)(the Pearce presumption was not designed to prevent the imposition of an increased sentence on retrial "for some valid reason associated with the need for flexibility and discretion in the sentencing process," but was "premised on the apparent need to guard against vindictiveness in the resentencing process"). Because the Pearce presumption "may operate in the absence of any proof of an improper motive and thus . . . block a legitimate response to criminal conduct," United States v. Goodwin, supra, 457 U.S., at 373, we have limited its application, like that of "other 'judicially created means of effectuating the rights secured by the [Constitution],'" to circumstances "where its 'objectives are thought most efficaciously served,'" Texas v. McCullough, supra, 475 U.S., at 138, quoting Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S. 465, 482, 487 (1976). Such circumstances are those in which there is a "reasonable likelihood," United States v. Goodwin, supra, 457 U.S., at 373, that the increase in sentence is the product of actual vindictiveness on the part of the sentencing authority. Where there is no such reasonable likelihood, the burden remains upon the defendant to prove actual vindictiveness, see Wasman v. United States, 468 U.S. 559, 569 (1984). Smith, 490 U.S. at 799-800.3 Noting that "the relevant sentencing information available to the judge after [a guilty] plea will usually be considerably less than that available after trial," the Court in Smith held 3 that resentencing after a Additional cases in which the North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711 (1969), presumption has been held not to apply include: Colten v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104, 117 (1972)(holding that presumption of vindictiveness is inapplicable in a system which gave a convicted defendant the right to a trial de novo in another court); and Chaffin v. Stynchcombe, 412 U.S. 17 (1973)(holding that no presumption of vindictiveness arose when a second jury, on retrial following a successful appeal, imposed a higher sentence than a prior jury because a second jury was unlikely to have a "personal stake" in the prior conviction or to be "sensitive to the institutional interests that might occasion higher sentences"). 19 No. 01-3100-CR defendant withdraws his guilty plea and is convicted at trial does not present a "reasonable likelihood" of vindictiveness so as to justify application of the Pearce presumption. Id. at 801. The Court also noted that in this situation, the trial court is already "not done simply 'do[ing] correctly,'" over which what might reasonable likelihood of vindictiveness. it thought otherwise it present had a Id. at 801-02 (quoting Colten v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104, 117 (1972)). ¶40 Wisconsin case law on the propriety of imposing a longer sentence following successful post-conviction proceedings flows from State v. Leonard, 39 Wis. 2d 461, 159 N.W.2d 577 (1968), which predated, but in a sense anticipated, the Supreme Court's decision in Pearce. In Leonard, this court concluded that [O]n resentencing following a second conviction after retrial, or mere resentencing, the trial court shall be barred from imposing an increased sentence unless (1) events occur or come to the sentencing court's attention subsequent to the first imposition of sentence which warrant an increased penalty; and (2) the court affirmatively states its grounds in the record for increasing the sentence. Leonard, 39 Wis. 2d at 473. ¶41 entirely The foundation for the Leonard rule, however, is not clear. The opinion recites case law from other jurisdictions but then says only that "[s]ix justices believe that until the United States Supreme Court has spoken unequivocally on this issue the approach of Marano [v. United States, 374 F.2d 583 (1st Cir. 1967)] is correct." 20 Leonard, 39 No. Wis. 2d at 473. 01-3100-CR The author of the opinion, Justice Wilkie, would have held that "any increase in sentencing constitutes a violation of the due-process and equal-protection guaranties of the United States Constitution." Id. Marano, from which the Leonard rule derives, does not elaborate any legal foundation for its holding. Because Marano was a federal prosecution, however, we can assume that the decision was premised on federal constitutional principles. This court has subsequently stated that the Leonard rule "[has] its basis in the due process clause of the insure state and federal constitutions that the sentencing judge does [and] not is designed modify a to criminal sentence for the purpose of penalizing a defendant who exercises his postconviction rights." Grobarchik v. State, 102 Wis. 2d 461, 473, 307 N.W.2d 170 (1981). ¶42 Pearce. A year after Leonard, the Supreme Court decided Subsequent Wisconsin case law has not reconciled the two cases with any clarity or consistency. We have stated that the Leonard rule is both "substantially similar to" and "broader than" the Pearce rule, and also that the two rules are based on the same "purposes" and "due process rules." Martin, 121 Wis. 2d at 687. ¶43 We have stated that Justice White's concurrence in Pearce is "more in accord" with Leonard. Wis. 2d 541, 545, 178 N.W.2d 38 Denny v. State, 47 (1970). In State v. Stubbendick, 110 Wis. 2d 693, 698, 329 N.W.2d 399 (1983), we characterized Denny as "adopt[ing] Justice White's concurrence" in Pearce, even though Denny did not do so, and it would be odd 21 No. for a state concurrence court as to adopt authoritative constitutional law. a single-vote on a 01-3100-CR Supreme matter of Court federal In any event, the issue in Stubbendick was whether a circuit court may constitutionally impose an increased sentence after the defendant withdraws his no contest plea and goes to Smith trial. that The Supreme the situation, so Pearce that Court presumption actual does not vindictiveness establish a due process violation. ¶44 subsequently concluded apply in be shown must in this to Smith, 490 U.S. at 799. In Grobarchik and Martin, we held that neither the Pearce nor the Leonard rule was applicable where "an initial sentence cannot be carried out because it was not authorized by law," and that in this situation, upon resentencing, "an increased sentence is permissible only when 'based upon a desire to implement the original dispositional scheme as manifested by the record in the first sentencing proceeding.'" Carter, 208 Wis. 2d at 149-50 (quoting Grobarchik, 102 Wis. 2d at 474, and Martin, 121 Wis. 2d at 687). ¶45 In Grobarchik, the original sentence on one count was invalid because of a defect in the circuit court's order of consecutive probation, in that the court had ordered the probation to commence on the defendant's release from prison as opposed to the completion of the imprisonment sentence (prison plus parole). that the Grobarchik, 102 Wis. 2d at 474-75. circuit court's correction of this We concluded error on resentencing, which operated to extend the period of supervision somewhat, was not subject to the Leonard or the Pearce rules. 22 No. Id. at 473-74. 01-3100-CR Instead, we concluded that the resentencing was permissible because the court was motivated not by "malice or vindictiveness seeking a in an attempt correction of to his penalize sentence," but implement its original dispositional plan." ¶46 In Martin, the defendant the had by defendant a "desire for to Id. at 475. been convicted and sentenced to consecutive 17-year prison terms on armed robbery and second-degree felony murder predicated on the armed robbery. Martin, 121 Wis. 2d at 671-72. The back-to-back sentences were ordered concurrent to a four-year sentence the defendant was serving on a parole revocation. The circuit court granted the defendant's post-trial motion to vacate the armed robbery count on double jeopardy grounds, and resentenced the defendant to 20 years on the remaining second-degree murder count, consecutive to the parole revocation sentence, increasing his sentence on the murder but decreasing his total prison term from 34 to 24 years. ¶47 We declined to apply either Martin, and instead applied Grobarchik. concluded that "because the circuit Pearce or Leonard Id. at 687-88. judge resentenced in We the defendant to correct a prior invalid sentence, the circuit court correctly scheme attempted reflected proceeding." by to implement the Id. at 688. record the in original the dispositional first sentencing We further held that "[t]he new sentence was properly based on the record as initially compiled by the sentencing judge without any new evidence. To encourage the judge at resentencing to exercise independent discretion is 23 No. inconsistent dispositional with the scheme purpose and would of the original to potential implementing open the vindictiveness in the resentencing process." ¶48 01-3100-CR door Id. Martin and Grobarchik, therefore, appear to establish a rule that where the resentencing occurs to correct a prior invalid sentence, an increased sentence on any of the remaining counts does not violate due process as long as the circuit court does not deviate from dispositional scheme.4 the original sentencing record and This rule is different from both Pearce and Leonard in that it disallows consideration of additional evidence and precludes application sentencing discretion at resentencing. would require reversal. At of new, independent Applying this rule here resentencing, the circuit court considered evidence outside the original sentencing record and 4 The scope and applicability of the rule established in State v. Martin, 121 Wis. 2d 670, 360 N.W.2d 43 (1985), and Grobarchik v. State, 102 Wis. 2d 461, 307 N.W.2d 170 (1981) were debated in this court's decision in State v. Carter, 208 Wis. 2d 142, 560 N.W.2d 256 (1997). In Carter, the defendant obtained resentencing after challenging certain information in his original presentence investigation report. This court distinguished Grobarchik and Martin, and concluded that the circuit court was entitled to "consider all information relevant about a defendant, including information about events and circumstances either that the sentencing court was unaware of at the initial sentencing or that occurred after the initial sentencing." Carter, 208 Wis. 2d at 146. This holding was reached in the context of a defendant's request to present additional, favorable information at resentencing. The dissent in Carter took the position that the majority had "effectively overruled" Grobarchik and Martin. Carter, 208 Wis. 2d at 162. Carter concerned the scope of a circuit court's inquiry upon resentencing, not the due process limitations on the circuit court's ability to increase a sentence upon resentencing. 24 No. 01-3100-CR evinced a clear intent to, and in fact did, depart from the original overall dispositional scheme. The circuit court added four years to Church's sexual assault sentence, increasing not just the prison term on that count but his overall prison term as well. ¶49 Applying either Leonard or Pearce also requires reversal, but applying Leonard would be problematic for a number of reasons. At first blush, Leonard appears to create a strict bar against increased sentences on resentencing (except where the two requirements otherwise. But while are met), whether on Leonard its after face retrial applies to or all resentencings, those following retrial "or mere resentencings," id., we have held that there are some resentencings that do not fall within the Leonard rule. Grobarchik, Martin, and by implication the Ronzani-Gordon line of cases are not subject to the Leonard rule. Grobarchik process/vindictiveness and violations Martin on guard against resentencing not due by requiring the circuit court to state objective new factors on the record, but by requiring the circuit court to stick to the original record and general overall sentence structure. As we have noted, that did not occur here. ¶50 Reconciling Leonard with Pearce is difficult for another reason: the circumstances under which a harsher sentence may be imposed are stated more broadly in Leonard than in Pearce, even in light of later Supreme Court case law explaining the Pearce presumption. A longer sentence may be imposed under Leonard where "events occur or come to the sentencing court's 25 No. 01-3100-CR attention subsequent to the first imposition of sentence which warrant an increased penalty," as long as the court states its reasons on the record. Leonard, 39 Wis. 2d at 473 (emphasis added). to This appears mean that events or conduct in existence and known to the prosecution but not brought to the circuit would court's be attention sufficient at to the original justify a sentencing longer hearing sentence on resentencing. ¶51 In practical terms, then, the resentencing, which occurs only because the defendant has been successful on postconviction motion or appeal, can under Leonard become a second opportunity for the prosecution to persuade the judge to impose a harsher sentence based on information it could have presented the first time around, but did not. This contradicts Pearce's central purpose, which is to prevent the resentencing process from becoming a vindictive exercise that penalizes a defendant who has aside. due succeeded in having his conviction or sentence set Our case law cannot provide less protection than federal process law provides; at least some applications of the Leonard rule would be suspect under Pearce. ¶52 We note also that the Leonard rule was expressly intended to apply "until the United States Supreme Court has spoken" on this issue. Supreme Court increased case sentences. Id. law on The There is now a significant body of the due process constitutionality implications of an of increased sentence upon resentencing is determined by reference to Pearce 26 No. and the Supreme Court cases elaborating on 01-3100-CR the Pearce presumption. ¶53 not As we have stated, Church's increased sentence would comply with the rule of Martin-Grobarchik. The circuit court evidently treated this resentencing as an opportunity to revisit the original sentence based upon updated information and argument. Pearce Under these presumption is circumstances, triggered. we conclude Although that the was not Church resentenced after retrial, as in Pearce, the circumstances of this case created the same sort of likelihood of vindictiveness as to require application of the presumption. ¶54 longer In this case, as in Pearce, the defendant received a sentence upon resentencing conviction proceedings. challenge to a after successful post- The appeal in this case posed a direct decision of the circuit court. The circuit court's decision on multiplicity was reversed, the entire case was remanded, and the circuit court was essentially "'do[ing] over what it thought it had already done correctly.'" Smith, 490 U.S. at 801 (quoting Colten, 407 U.S. at 117); Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 374, 383 nn. 5, 16 (quoting Colten). Inherent in these circumstances is the "reasonable likelihood of vindictiveness" that the Pearce presumption is intended to protect against. Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 373. ¶55 The Pearce presumption of vindictiveness can be overcome if "affirmative reasons" justifying the longer sentence appear in the record and if those reasons are "based upon objective information" regarding events or "identifiable conduct 27 No. on the part of the sentencing proceeding. ¶56 defendant" subsequent 01-3100-CR the original to Pearce, 395 U.S. at 726. The longer sentence in this case was premised on the passage of time: four years of incarceration had gone by, and Church was received still (mostly) treatment. information" of This in denial does "identifiable not conduct and had not sought constitute on the or "objective part of the defendant" subsequent to the original sentencing. It constitutes a subjective evaluation of the status of Church's rehabilitation at the time of resentencing, based not on any new facts but on the mere continued existence of the original facts. ¶57 Church was in denial and untreated at the time of the original sentencing. That he remained so four years later is not a new factor justifying a longer sentence after a successful appeal; it is merely a continuation of the status quo ante. Defendants who exercise their right to appeal often maintain their innocence. successful appeal To on premise a an increased defendant's sentence continued after denial a of responsibility, without more, comes far too close to punishing the defendant for exercising his right to appeal. ¶58 In addition, there is no evidence that Church refused any treatment opportunity while in prison. at the resentencing hearing established Indeed, the evidence that sex offender treatment was not typically offered until the end of an inmate's prison term and was not available to Church during his first four years of incarceration. 28 No. ¶59 longer 01-3100-CR Accordingly, the circuit court's justification for the sentence here that Church remained in denial and untreated four years into his prison term was insufficient to overcome the Pearce presumption.5 Church's state of being in denial and untreated did not constitute a new factor, only a continuation of the same situation that existed at the time of the original sentencing. ¶60 In sum, we conclude that resentencing on convictions that remain intact after one or more counts in a multi-count case is vacated is not always required. Where, as here, the vacated count did not affect the overall dispositional structure of the original sentence, resentencing on the remaining counts is unnecessary. We also conclude that the increased sentence imposed upon Church was presumptively vindictive under Pearce, and was not supported by objective new factors in the record justifying the increase. Accordingly, the increased sentence violated Church's right to due process. By the court.-The decision of the court of appeals is reversed. 5 We state for the record that the question here is not whether Church deserved a sentence longer than 13 years for these crimes. Had the new sentence of 17 years, or perhaps even a longer term, been imposed as an initial matter, it easily would have withstood review as an appropriate exercise of discretion, given the severity of these offenses and the risk of recidivism, as fully explained by the circuit court. See McCleary v. State, 49 Wis. 2d 263, 280-82, 182 N.W.2d 512 (1971). 29 No. 30 01-3100-CR No. 1 01-3100-CR
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