COMMONWEALTH vs. ISMAEL M. ROSA. (and a companion case ).

COMMONWEALTH vs. ISMAEL M. ROSA. (and a companion case [Note 1]).

18 Mass. App. Ct. 247

April 25, 1984 - June 11, 1984

Bristol County

Present: DREBEN, HALE, & SMITH, JJ.

On rehearing, this court directed that two defendants, who had been convicted of trafficking in heroin and had originally been sentenced under the invalid penalty provisions of clause 1 of G. L. c. 94C, Section 32E (c), as appearing in St. 1980, c. 436, Section 4, were to be resentenced under the general penalty provisions of Section 32E (c), as so appearing, to terms of imprisonment not exceeding five years. [247-248]

INDICTMENTS found and returned in the Superior Court Department on August 24 and September 15, 1981, respectively.

Following its decision in 17 Mass. App. Ct. 495 (1984), the Appeals Court granted a rehearing.

Daniel E. Callahan for Ismael M. Rosa.

Kenneth G. Littman for Ramon Rojas.

Phillip L. Weiner, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

HALE, J. Following the issuance of our opinion in Commonwealth v. Rosa, 17 Mass. App. Ct. 495 (1984), the defendants requested a rehearing as to whether under Commonwealth v. Bongarzone, 390 Mass. 326 (1983), our order for resentencing was correct. A rehearing was held. We agree with the defendants that our order they be sentenced under the general provisions of G. L. c. 94C, Section 32E(c), inserted by St. 1980, c. 436, Section 4 (which was held valid in Commonwealth v. Marrone, 387 Mass. 702 [1982]), subjected them to a potential sentence of from five to fifteen years. Under our decision as written this

Page 248

could result in resolving the ambiguity in Section 32E(c) (1) (whether the mandatory five-year term in clause 1 is a maximum or minimum term) against the defendants. This is so because under G. L. c. 279, Section 24, sentence to State prison shall be indeterminate with only the minimum and maximum terms fixed. (We were informed at the argument on rehearing that it has happened in the case of Rojas who was, in resentencing, awarded a five to seven year term.) There can be no question, however, that a person "trafficking in heroin" as defined in Section 32E(c) would be on notice that he would at least be subject to a sentence of not more than five years for a violation which comes within the ambit of clause 1 of Section 32E(c). See Commonwealth v. Lightfoot, 391 Mass. 718 , 721 (1984). Under G. L. c. 279, Section 31, as appearing in St. 1955, c. 770, Section 99, with a limitation we understand is not applicable here, a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment "in any correctional institution" (and M.C.I. Walpole is one) may be sentenced to M.C.I. Concord for an indefinite term. See Commonwealth v. Hayes, 372 Mass. 505 , 511 (1977). That sentence can be set so as not to exceed five years. See G. L. c. 279, Section 33.

The defendants are to be allowed thirty days from the date of this decision on rehearing within which to move in the Superior Court to vacate any sentence exceeding five years imposed pursuant to our original opinion in these cases. Such a motion or motions, if timely filed, shall be allowed and a new sentence or sentences of imprisonment not exceeding five years shall be imposed. A rescript shall issue forthwith.

So ordered.

FOOTNOTES

[Note 1] Commonwealth vs. Ramon Rojas.