PEOPLE OF MI V JOHN MARTIN BURKE
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
February 10, 1998
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 196033
Macomb Circuit Court
LC No. 93-003086 FH &
95-000061 FH
JOHN MARTIN BURKE,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Gage, P.J., and Murphy and Reilly, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
After pleading guilty to separate charges of delivery of controlled substances under 50 grams in
violation of §7401(2)(a)(iv) of the Public Health Code, defendant was placed on lifetime probation as to
each charge. His probation was subsequently amended after he violated one of the initial terms,
participation in the special alternative incarceration program (boot camp), MCL 771.3a; MSA
28.1133(1).
On February 7, 1996, defendant was charged with probation violation for having failed to
report to his probation officer, as required, since November 5, 1995. At a formal hearing on this
charge, at which defendant was represented by counsel, it was established that, following an injury to
defendant’s shoulder in a motor vehicle accident, he telephoned his probation officer on or about
November 5, 1995, and received permission not to physically report while disabled. However, the
probation officer testified that within a few days defendant had been released from the hospital, and was
not staying at the residence registered with the probation office. Defendant did speak with his probation
officer again in December, 1995, at which time he was given no further dispensation from his reporting
obligations. Nonetheless, he failed to report that month or in January, 1996, as well as each subsequent
month up to the date of the hearing. The trial court noted that, even excusing defendant for November
and December, 1995, his subsequent failure to report, even by telephone, was neither excused nor
justified, and that he was therefore guilty of violating his probation. Defendant argues that he was found
guilty of failing to report in months subsequent to the date the probation violation charges were filed, but
the record contradicts this contention. The trial court therefore did not improperly find defendant guilty
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of probation violation based on conduct not charged in the petition. Cf. People v Longmier, 114 Mich
App 351; 319 NW2d 579 (1982).
Because of the jurisdictional nature of the issue, this Court is obliged to sua sponte note that,
following the probation violation adjudication, defendant received concurrent sentences of 3 to 20 years
on each charge. On being advised by the Department of Corrections that consecutive sentences are
mandated by §7401(3) of the Public Health Code, the trial court initially amended the sentences to run
consecutively. Defendant then requested “correction” of the sentences so that the minimum terms
would not add up to more than three years, and the trial court, without holding any formal hearings,
imposed new judgments of sentence of 1½ to 20 years on each count. This was error. Where a
sentence is valid, the trial court is without power to correct or amend it; if the sentence is invalid, it must
be corrected or amended. People v Mitchell, 454 Mich 145; ___ NW2d ___ (1997).
However, where the invalidity is in imposing concurrent sentences where consecutive sentences
are mandated, the only acceptable method of correction is resentencing, at which both the defense and
the prosecution may be heard to allocute concerning the parameters of consecutive sentences. People
v Thomas, 223 Mich App 9; ___ NW2d ___ (1997); People v Mapp, ___ Mich App ___; ___
NW2d ___ (No. 186050, July 8, 1997). Accordingly, defendant’s sentences are vacated and the
cause is remanded to the Macomb Circuit Court for resentencing.
Probation violation adjudication affirmed; sentences vacated and cause remanded for
resentencing consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Hilda R. Gage
/s/ William B. Murphy
/s/ Maureen Pulte Reilly
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