STATE v. POWELL (2021)

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.2021-07-20No. No. COA20-135

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court vacated the restitution order and the attorney fees order, and remanded the case for the trial court to conduct a hearing on restitution and to provide Powell an opportunity to be heard on all fee-related charges.

Shamar Powell was convicted of three felonies and ordered to pay $52,192.26 in restitution along with $3,570.10 in attorney fees and a $60.00 appointment fee. He appealed the civil judgments by oral notice rather than written notice, which would normally be required. The court exercised its discretion to hear his petition for writ of certiorari challenging these monetary orders.

On the merits, the court found two errors. First, the restitution amount lacked competent evidentiary support—the state submitted only a worksheet without supporting documentation or testimony, and Powell did not agree to the amount. Second, the trial court imposed attorney fees and expenses without giving Powell any opportunity to be heard on the matter, which violated his right to be heard before such awards are imposed. The state conceded both errors in its briefing.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether restitution order was supported by competent evidence in the record
Whether trial court violated defendant's right to be heard before imposing attorney fees
Proper procedure for appealing civil judgments in a criminal case

Procedural posture

Powell appealed his felony conviction and civil monetary judgments; he gave oral rather than written notice of appeal to the civil judgments, prompting the court to consider his petition for writ of certiorari.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

I. Background

¶ 1 Defendant Shamar D. Powell was tried and found guilty of three felonies. Additionally, the trial court entered civil judgments requiring Defendant to pay $52,192.26 in restitution, $3,570.10 in attorney fees and expenses, and a $60.00 attorney appointment fee. Defendant gave oral notice of appeal.

¶ 2 On appeal, he only challenges the civil judgments. Appeals from those judgments required that he give written notice of appeal. See N.C. R. App. P. 3(a) (requiring appellants in civil action to file a notice of appeal with the clerk of the superior court and serve copies on all parties in a timely manner). Defendant, however, has filed a petition for writ of certiorari regarding the civil judgments. We exercise our discretion and grant Defendants writ.

II. Analysis

A. Restitution

¶ 3 Defendant argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay $52,192.26 in restitution when there was no competent evidence in the record to support the amount. We review whether a trial courts restitution order is supported by competent evidence de novo. State v. Wilson, 340 N.C. 720, 726, 459 S.E.2d 192, 196 (1995).

¶ 4 We agree with Defendant. We conclude that there was no competent evidence in the record to support the restitution amount. The State did present a restitution worksheet, but the worksheet was not supported by documentation or testimony to justify the amount. Defendant did not stipulate to the amount. Thus, competent evidence was not present. See State v. Swann, 197 N.C. App. 221, 225, 676 S.E.2d 654, 657-58 (2009). Therefore, that portion of the order must be vacated.

B. Opportunity To Be Heard

¶ 5 Defendant further argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay $5,570.10 in attorney fees and expenses, plus a $60.00 attorney appointment fee, without providing him any opportunity to be heard. The State concedes this point, stating in its brief that “the trial court probably erred in imposing restitution, attorney fees, and expenses, and the appointment fee against the Defendant.”

¶ 6 Our Supreme Court has held that it is error for a trial court to enter an award for attorney fees against a criminal defendant without providing the defendant an opportunity to be heard. State v. Crews, 284 N.C. 427, 441-42, 201 S.E.2d 840, 849-50 (1974). Here, it is undisputed that Defendant was not provided an opportunity to be heard on the various fees attributed, thus error occurred. Therefore, that portion of the order must be vacated.

III. Conclusion

¶ 7 We conclude that the trial court erred on the issues of restitution and attorney fees. Accordingly, we vacate and remand for the trial court to order a hearing on restitution and to provide the Defendant an opportunity to be heard on the matter of attorney fees. The trial court may allow the parties to present evidence at this hearing.

VACATED AND REMANDED.

Report per Rule 30(e).

DILLON, Judge.

Judges HAMPSON and GRIFFIN concur.