2010 Maryland Code
CRIMINAL LAW
TITLE 5 - CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES, PRESCRIPTIONS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Subtitle 6 - Crimes Involving Controlled Dangerous Substances and Paraphernalia
Section 5-608 - Penalties - Narcotic drug.
§ 5-608. Penalties - Narcotic drug.
(a) In general.- Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who violates a provision of §§ 5-602 through 5-606 of this subtitle with respect to a Schedule I or Schedule II narcotic drug is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or a fine not exceeding $25,000 or both.
(b) Second time offender.-
(1) A person who is convicted under subsection (a) of this section or of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 10 years and is subject to a fine not exceeding $100,000 if the person previously has been convicted once:
(i) under subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle;
(ii) of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle; or
(iii) of a crime under the laws of another state or the United States that would be a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle if committed in this State.
(2) The court may not suspend the mandatory minimum sentence to less than 10 years.
(3) Except as provided in § 4-305 of the Correctional Services Article, the person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.
(4) A person convicted under subsection (a) of this section is not prohibited from participating in a drug treatment program under § 8-507 of the Health - General Article because of the length of the sentence.
(c) Third time offender.-
(1) A person who is convicted under subsection (a) of this section or of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 25 years and is subject to a fine not exceeding $100,000 if the person previously:
(i) has served at least one term of confinement of at least 180 days in a correctional institution as a result of a conviction:
1. under subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 or § 5-614 of this subtitle;
2. of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle; or
3. of a crime under the laws of another state or the United States that would be a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle if committed in this State; and
(ii) has been convicted twice, if the convictions arise from separate occasions:
1. under subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle;
2. of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle;
3. of a crime under the laws of another state or the United States that would be a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle if committed in this State; or
4. of any combination of these crimes.
(2) The court may not suspend any part of the mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.
(3) Except as provided in § 4-305 of the Correctional Services Article, the person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.
(4) A separate occasion is one in which the second or succeeding crime is committed after there has been a charging document filed for the preceding crime.
(d) Fourth time offender.-
(1) A person who is convicted under subsection (a) of this section or of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 40 years and is subject to a fine not exceeding $100,000 if the person previously has served three or more separate terms of confinement as a result of three or more separate convictions:
(i) under subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle;
(ii) of conspiracy to commit a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle;
(iii) of a crime under the laws of another state or the United States that would be a crime included in subsection (a) of this section or § 5-609 of this subtitle if committed in this State; or
(iv) of any combination of these crimes.
(2) The court may not suspend any part of the mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years.
(3) Except as provided in § 4-305 of the Correctional Services Article, the person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.
[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 286(b)(1), (c), (d), (e); 2002, ch. 26, § 2; 2003, ch. 21, § 1; 2006, ch. 327; 2010, ch. 417.]
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