This post examines a recent opinion from the Supreme Court
of South Dakota: State v. Krause, 894
N.W.2d 382 (2017). The court begins the opinion by explaining that
[t]win brothers Ryan Alan Krause and
Brian Michael Krause appeal the circuit court's imposition of four consecutive,
two-year sentences on each brother for multiple convictions of unlawfully using
a computer system. The Krauses first argue their sentences violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
State v. Krause,
supra.
The Supreme Court goes on to explain how, and why, the
prosecution arose:
In 2014, the Krauses were both employed
in information-technology positions in Milbank. Brian worked for Valley Queen
Cheese, and Ryan worked for Big Stone Therapies. Valley Queen Cheese had
contracted with the Xerox Company to supply toner cartridges. Under the
agreement, Xerox maintained ownership of a cartridge even while it was in
Valley Queen Cheese's possession. In order to protect its property interest in
leased cartridges, Xerox maintains a security division that monitors the
internet for the sale of such consumables.
In January 2014, Xerox's security
division discovered some of its toner cartridges posted for sale on the
internet. The cartridges had been assigned to Valley Queen Cheese and were
offered for sale by someone using the email address Brian.Krause1@html.com.
Xerox purchased the cartridges and made similar purchases from the same seller in
April 2014. Afterward, the seller offered to sell Xerox additional property
worth $5,800 for the price of only $600. After this exchange, Xerox notified
the Milbank Police Department.
The subsequent investigation uncovered
a scheme in which the Krauses stole equipment from both Valley Queen Cheese and
Big Stone Therapies and sold it on the internet. An internal investigation
conducted by Valley Queen Cheese revealed that approximately $180,000 in
equipment had been stolen by the Krauses. The stolen equipment included: toner,
toner cartridges, computers, computer monitors, printers, phones, electronic
equipment, and other miscellaneous items of inventory. The Krauses had also
taken additional electronics from Big Stone Therapies.
In addition to stealing company
property, the Krauses also accessed sensitive and private information. On
December 27, 2013, the Krauses accessed the restricted database of Valley Queen
Cheese's accounting department and copied the 2013 payroll statement, which
included the ID numbers, salaries, benefits, accrued leave, bonus payments,
mailing addresses, and bank-account numbers of its employees. On July 1,
2014, Brian accessed the email account of the chief financial officer (CFO) and
copied an email containing a local businessman's development-loan application,
which included the businessman's taxpayer ID number, social security number,
underwriting documents, personal financial statement, and business financial
statement. On July 23, 2013, Brian accessed the CFO's personal files and copied
the personal financial statements of the CFO and the chief executive officer.
On May 31, 2013, and February 12, 2014, Brian accessed the CFO's and IT
administrator's email accounts and used their information to access the CFO's
and administrator's online banking records. In each of the foregoing instances,
Brian shared and discussed the information he accessed with Ryan.
State v. Krause,
supra.
The Supreme Court goes on to explain how, and why, the
Krause brothers came to be charged:
On July 10, 2015, the Krauses entered
into identical plea agreements with the State. The Krauses agreed to pay
restitution to Valley Queen Cheese and Big Stone Therapies in the amount
of $80,000 and to sign over the title to a jointly owned pontoon boat. In exchange,
the State agreed to limit charges to one count each of grand theft for the
property taken and four counts each of unlawfully using a computer system. The
State also agreed to recommend that the sentences for unlawfully using a
computer system run concurrent with the sentence for grand theft. Pursuant to
these agreements, the State filed separate complaints against the Krauses on
July 14. Each complaint alleged one count of grand theft under [SouthDakota Codified Laws] 22–30A–1 and four counts of unlawfully using a
computer under [South Dakota Codified Laws] 43–43B–1(2).
The Krauses entered guilty pleas to all
charges on July 20, 2015, and the circuit court sentenced them on September 15,
2015. Focusing on punishment and deterrence, the circuit court sentenced each
of the Krauses to four years imprisonment for grand theft. The court also
sentenced the Krauses to two years imprisonment for each count of unlawfully
using a computer system. Additionally, the court ordered all sentences run
consecutively.
State v. Krause,
supra.
The Supreme Court went on to explain that in their “consolidated
appeal”, which I assume means their individual appeals were consolidated,
probably for the interests of maintaining consistency in the legal analysis
applied to both appeals, the defendants raised two issues:
1. Whether their consecutive sentences
for unlawfully using a computer system violate the Eighth Amendment's
prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
2. Whether the circuit court erred by
imposing sentences of imprisonment instead of probation for the
unlawful-use-of-computer-system convictions.
State v. Krause,
supra. In a footnote appended to the last word in the description of the
first issue, the Supreme Court noted that the brothers did not appeal their
convictions for grand theft. State v.
Krause, supra.
The Supreme Court therefore began its analysis of the
brothers’ arguments concerning their sentencing. State v. Krause, supra. It
analyzed the arguments in the order in which they are given above.
The Court therefore began its analysis of the Krauses’ first
issue by explaining that
`[w]e generally review a circuit
court's decision regarding sentencing for abuse of discretion.’ State
v. Rice, 2016 S.D. 18, ¶ 11, 877 N.W.2d 75, 79 (quoting State
v. Chipps, 2016 S.D. 8, ¶ 31, 874 N.W.2d 475, 486). `However, when the
question presented is whether a challenged sentence is cruel and unusual in
violation of the Eighth Amendment, we conduct a de novo review to determine whether the sentence imposed is grossly disproportionate to the offense.’ Id. (quoting Chipps,
2016 S.D. 8, ¶ 31, 874 N.W.2d at 486).
The Krauses argue that their sentences
for unlawfully using a computer are grossly disproportionate to the
circumstances of their crimes. They contend that the circumstances of their
crimes were minor. They also contend their crimes are mitigated because: (1)
neither of the Krauses has a substantial criminal record, (2) they cooperated
with law enforcement in interviews and by surrendering computer evidence, (3)
they immediately enrolled in counseling, and (4) they made restitution prior to
sentencing. However, the Krauses' mitigation arguments are entirely
irrelevant to an Eighth Amendment analysis. The Supreme Court has rejected
individualized sentencing in noncapital cases. Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 995 (1991); accord Rice, 2016 S.D. 18, ¶ 18
& n.3, 877 N.W.2d at 81–82 & n.3. Therefore, we simply determine
whether the sentences imposed appear grossly disproportionate to the
offenses committed.
To determine whether a sentence is
grossly disproportionate to an offense, we first compare `the gravity of the
offense and the harshness of the penalty.’ Chipps, 2016 S.D. 8, ¶
38, 874 N.W.2d at 488 (quoting Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277,
290–91, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 3010, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983)). `This comparison rarely `leads
to an inference of gross disproportionality’ and typically marks the end of our
review.’ Id.¶ 38, 874 N.W.2d at 489 (quoting State v. Garreau,
2015 S.D. 36, ¶ 9, 864 N.W.2d 771, 775). `If the penalty imposed appears to be
grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the offense, then we will compare
the sentence to those “imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction” as
well as those ‘imposed for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions.’ Id. (quoting Solem v. Helm,
463 U.S. at 291, 103 S.Ct. at 3010).
State v. Krause,
supra.
The court goes on to explain that the Krauses pleaded guilty
to
unlawfully using a computer system.
Among other instances, this offense occurs when a person `[k]nowingly obtains
the use of, accesses, or exceeds authorized access to, a computer system, or
any part thereof, without the consent of the owner, and the access or use
includes access to confidential data or material[.]’ [South Dakota Codified Laws] 43–43B–1(2).This particular variation of the offense violates
both property and privacy rights of the victim. As noted above, supra ¶
5, the Krauses accessed and discussed payroll data, bank accounts, personal
financial statements, email, and other confidential data belonging to a number
of people. The Krauses argue that because they did not further disseminate the
confidential information they accessed or use it to extort their victims, their
crimes are not representative of the most serious of their kind.
Yet, the offense for which the Krauses
were convicted addresses only obtaining the use of, accessing,
or exceeding authorized access to a computer system, without
the consent of the owner, to access confidential data or material. Id. The
fact that the Krauses could have committed additional crimes but did not do so
does not diminish the gravity of the crimes that occurred. Regardless, these
crimes already lie on the lower end of the gravity-of-offense spectrum. A
two-year sentence correspondingly lies on the low end of the spectrum of
punishments. Therefore, considering the property and privacy interests that the
Krauses violated, their sentences do not appear grossly disproportionate to
their offenses, and our review ends. See Chipps, 2016 S.D. 8,
¶¶ 43–45, 874 N.W.2d at 490–91 (upholding five-year sentence of imprisonment
for four occurrences of identity theft).
State v. Krause,
supra. (emphases in the original).
The Court went on to address the other issue raised in the
defendants’ appeal, explaining that
[n]ext, the Krauses argue the circuit
court erred by deviating from a presumptive sentence of probation. At the time
they were sentenced, [South Dakota Codified Laws] 22-6-11 generally
required a sentencing court to impose a sentence of probation for
the commission of a Class 5 or 6 felony. State v. Orr, 2015
S.D. 89, ¶ 9, 871 N.W.2d 834, 837. Deviation from a presumptive sentence
of probation is permitted only if the sentencing court finds aggravating
circumstances posing a significant risk to the public that requires such a
departure. Id.
The Krauses contend the circuit court's
focus on punishment and deterring future offenders does not establish a
significant risk to the public sufficient to deviate from the presumptive
sentence of probation. They additionally contend that even if aggravating
circumstances were present, the circuit court erred by not stating those
circumstances in the judgment of conviction. The State responds that because the circuit
court imposed a sentence of imprisonment on the Krauses for grand theft, [South Dakota Codified Laws] 22-6-11 does not apply to the remaining offenses.
State v. Krause, supra.
The Supreme Court continued its analysis, explaining that
[w]e recently reviewed the
constitutionality of [South Dakota Codified Laws] 22-6-11 in State
v. Orr. In that case, a defendant already sentenced to imprisonment in the
penitentiary received additional sentences for consecutive penitentiary time
and a concurrent term of probation. Orr, 2015 S.D. 89, ¶ 2, 871
N.W.2d at 835. The defendant appealed, arguing he could not be subjected to
simultaneous supervision by the executive and judicial branches. Id. We
agreed and held: `The judicial branch cannot give itself authority over
offenders that are in the state penitentiary by sentencing a person to
simultaneous probation and penitentiary sentences.’ Id. ¶ 10,
871 N.W.2d at 838. Consequently, a `sentencing court cannot grant probation
where a defendant receives penitentiary time beyond that authorized by [South
Dakota Codified Laws] 22-6-11 23A–27–18.1 and [South Dakota
Codified Laws] 23A–27–18.2.’ Id. ¶ 12, 871 N.W.2d at 838.
The Krauses did not respond to the
State's argument and have not offered any analysis on whether Orr applies
to the present case. We note that Orr involved concurrent
sentences of imprisonment and probation, whereas the current case involves
consecutive sentences. Therefore, this case does not involve the same
dual-supervision problem presented in Orr. Even so, other statutes
also suggest that once the executive branch assumes supervision of an offender,
he does not return to the judicial branch for supervised release. By statute, a
sentencing court does not have discretion to impose a sentence of probation
consecutive to a term of imprisonment. See
[South Dakota Codified Laws §] 22–6–6.1. And while a court can supervise
an offender `with an entirely suspended penitentiary sentence’ in some cases,
it may not do so if `the entirely suspended penitentiary sentence is concurrent
or consecutive to an additional penitentiary sentence[.]’ [South Dakota
Codified Laws §] 23A-27-18.4 .
In such a case, the offender remains under the supervision of the executive
branch. Id.
State v. Krause,
supra.
The court then takes up a related issue, explaining that in
light of the foregoing, it appears the
circuit court did not have the authority—let alone an obligation—to sentence
the Krauses to probation for their unlawful-use-of-computer-system convictions.
As the State correctly points out, the Krauses were each sentenced to a four-year
term of imprisonment in the penitentiary for their grand-theft convictions. The
Krauses have not appealed these sentences. Thus, because the Krauses were
otherwise committed to the supervision of the executive branch, subsequent
supervision by the judicial branch was not an option, and probation was no
longer the presumptive sentence under [South Dakota Codified Laws §] 22–6–11.
Because probation was not the presumptive sentence, the circuit court's
decision to impose a penitentiary sentence was necessarily not a deviation
from under [South Dakota Codified Laws §] 22–6–11, and the circuit
court was not required to state aggravating circumstances in the judgment of
conviction.
State v. Krause,
supra.
The Supreme Court then articulated its holding in the case:
The sentences the Krauses received for
unlawfully using a computer system do not appear grossly disproportionate to
the gravity of their offenses; therefore, the sentences are not cruel and
unusual. Because the Krauses were sentenced to imprisonment in the
penitentiary, the circuit court was not required or authorized to sentence the
Krauses to probation for their unlawful uses of a computer system. Therefore,
the circuit court did not err by imposing two-year sentences of imprisonment
for each such conviction.
We affirm.
State v. Krause,
supra.
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