Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

406 So. 2d 456

Terrell v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama

Decided October 27, 1981

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama · decided 1981-10-27

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1981

1 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“the legislature intended that all felons, whether drug offenders or otherwise, be subject to enhanced punishment under the Alabama Habitual Felony Offender Act when prior convictions have been shown.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 409 So. 2d 936 - Bennett v. State

Relies on 290 F. Supp. 511 - Wessling v. Bennett

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1981-10-27

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

BOWEN, Judge.

¶1The defendant was convicted of the theft of property in the first degree. He was sentenced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act to life imprisonment. Alabama Code 1975, Section 13A-5-9.

¶2On appeal, the defendant contends that the Habitual Felony Offender Act is unconstitutional because it “excludes offenses involving drugs from the operation of the .. . Act, thereby treating similarly situated persons differently from the Appellant.”

¶3This very same issue was answered adversely to the defendant by this Court in Motley v. State, Ala.Cr.App., 8 Div. 544 (Ms. October 20, 1981), wherein we held that “the legislature intended that all felons, whether drug offenders or otherwise, be subject to enhanced punishment *457under the Alabama Habitual Felony Offender Act when prior convictions have been shown.”

¶4Additionally, we would note that a recidivist statute is not constitutionally deficient for the mere reason that it does not include all felonies. Wessling v. Bennett, 290 F.Supp. 511 (N.D.Iowa 1968).

¶5We have searched the record and found no error prejudicial to the substantial rights of the defendant. The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.

¶6AFFIRMED.

All Judges concur.
/406/so2d/456 · .json · Public domain