WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 765

By Senators Weld and Woelfel

[Passed March 7, 2020; in effect 90 days from passage]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-11-18 and §61-11-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to provisions of the Habitual Offender statute; modifying provisions addressing eligibility of certain crimes for consideration; listing offenses which qualify to enhance a sentence; maintaining penalty for persons having two or more prior qualifying offenses; treating crimes arising from the same transaction or series of transactions as one offense; requiring the most recent prior conviction to be less than 20 years old to be counted; and requiring plea agreements to address applicability of habitual offender provisions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


ARTICLE 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING CRIMES.

§61-11-18. Punishment for second or third offense of felony.

(a) For purposes of this section, “qualifying offense” means any offenses or an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in the following provisions of this code:

(1) §60A-4-401(i) and §60A-4-401(ii);

(2) §60A-4-406;

(3) §60A-4-409(b)(1), §60A-4-409(2), and §60A-4-409(3);

(4) §60A-4-411;

(5) §60A-4-414;

(6) §60A-4-415;

(7) §60A-4-416(a);

(8) §61-2-1;

(9) §61-2-4;

(10) §61-2-7;

(11) §61-2-9(a);

(12) §61-2-9a(d) and §61-2-9a(e);

(13) §61-2-9b;

(14) §61-2-9d;

(15) §61-2-10;

(16) §61-2-10b(b) and §61-2-10b(c);

(17) Felony provisions of §61-2-10b(d);

(18) §61-2-12;

(19) Felony provisions of §61-2-13;

(20) §61-2-14;

(21) §61-2-14a(a) and §61-2-14a(d);

(22) §61-2-14c;

(23) §61-2-14d(a) and §61-2-14d(b);

(24) §61-2-14f;

(25) §61-2-14h(a), §61-2-14h(b), and §61-2-14h(c);

(26) §61-2-16a(a) and §61-2-16a(b);

(27) Felony provisions of §61-2-16a(c);

(28) §61-2-28(d);

(29) §61-2-29(d) and §61-2-29(e);

(30) §61-2-29a;

(31) §61-3-1;

(32) §61-3-2;

(33) §61-3-3;

(34) §61-3-4;

(35) §61-3-5;

(36) §61-3-6;

(37) §61-3-7;

(38) §61-3-11;

(39) §61-3-13(a);

(40) §61-3-27;

(41) §61-3C-14b;

(42) §61-3E-5;

(43) §61-5-17(b), §61-5-17(f), §61-5-17(h), and §61-5-17(i);

(44) §61-5-27;

(45) §61-6-24;

(46) Felony provisions of §61-7-7;

(47) §61-7-12;

(48) §61-7-15;

(49) §61-7-15a;

(50) §61-8-12;

(51) §61-8-19(b);

(52) §61-8B-3;

(53) §61-8B-4;

(54) §61-8B-5;

(55) §61-8B-7;

(56) §61-8B-10;

(57) §61-8C-2;

(58) §61-8C-3;

(59) §61-8C-3a;

(60) §61-8D-2;

(61) §61-8D-2a;

(62) §61-8D-3;

(63) §61-8D-3a;

(64) §61-8D-4;

(65) §61-8D-4a;

(66) §61-8D-5;

(67) §61-8D-6;

(68) §61-10-31;

(69) §61-11-8;

(70) §61-11-8a;

(71) §61-14-2; and

(72) §17C-5-2(b), driving under the influence causing death.

(b) Except as provided by subsection (c) of this section, when any person is convicted of a qualifying offense and is subject to confinement in a state correctional facility therefor, and it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that such person had been before convicted in the United States of a crime punishable by confinement in a penitentiary, the court shall, if the sentence to be imposed is for a definite term of years, add five years to the time for which the person is or would be otherwise sentenced. Whenever in such case the court imposes an indeterminate sentence, the minimum term shall be twice the term of years otherwise provided for under such sentence.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, when any person is convicted of first degree murder or second degree murder or a violation of §61-8B-3 of this code and it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that such person had been before convicted in this state of first degree murder, second degree murder, or a violation of section three, §61-8B-3 of this code or has been so convicted under any law of the United States or any other state for an offense which has the same elements as any offense described in this subsection, such person shall be punished by confinement in a state correctional facility for life and is not eligible for parole.

(d) When it is determined, as provided in §61-11-19 of this code, that such person shall have been twice before convicted in the United States of a crime punishable by confinement in a penitentiary which has the same elements as a qualifying offense, the person shall be sentenced to imprisonment in a state correctional facility for life: Provided, That prior convictions arising from the same transaction or series of transactions shall be considered a single offense for purposes of this section: Provided, however, That an offense which would otherwise constitute a qualifying offense for purposes of this subsection and subsection (b) of this section shall not be considered if more than 20 years have elapsed between that offense and the conduct underlying the current charge.

§61-11-19. Procedure in trial of persons for second or third offense.

A prosecuting attorney, when he or she has knowledge of a former sentence or sentences to the penitentiary of any person convicted of an offense punishable by confinement in the penitentiary, may give information thereof to the court immediately upon conviction and before sentence. Said court shall, before expiration of the next term at which such person was convicted, cause such person or prisoner to be brought before it, and upon an information filed by the prosecuting attorney, setting forth the records of conviction and sentence, or convictions and sentences, as the case may be, and alleging the identity of the prisoner with the person named in each, shall require the prisoner to say whether he or she is the same person or not. If he or she says he or she is not, or remains silent, his or her plea, or the fact of his or her silence, shall be entered of record, and a jury shall be impaneled to inquire whether the prisoner is the same person mentioned in the several records. If the jury finds that he or she is not the same person, he or she shall be sentenced upon the charge of which he or she was convicted as provided by law; but if they find that he or she is the same, or after being duly cautioned if he or she acknowledged in open court that he or she is the same person, the court shall sentence him or her to such further confinement as is prescribed by §61-11-18 of this code on a second or third conviction as the case may be: Provided, That where the person is convicted pursuant to a plea agreement, the agreement shall address whether or not the provisions of this section and §61-11-18 of this code are to be invoked.

The clerk of such court shall transmit a copy of said information to the Commissioner of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, together with the other papers required by the provisions of §62-8-10 of this code.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as repealing the provisions of §62-8-4 of this code, but no proceeding shall be instituted by the warden, as provided therein, if the trial court has determined the fact of former conviction or convictions as provided herein.