The opinion issued on February 10, 2023, is withdrawn, and the following is substituted therefor.
Gordon Douglas Lawrence appeals the revocation of his probation based on his failure to submit to substance-abuse treatment and monitoring by failing to enter and complete a 12-month residential substance-abuse rehabilitation program. We reverse and remand because the circuit court revoked Lawrences probation based on a technical violation and because the record indicates that Lawrence was provided neither written notice of nor an explanation of the condition with which he was to comply.
Facts and Procedural History
The record indicates that Lawrence was convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a violation of § 13A-12-212, Ala. Code 1975, and was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment on March 15, 2019. (C. 5.) Lawrences sentence was split, and he was ordered to serve six months imprisonment; the remainder of his sentence was suspended, and Lawrence was placed on probation for three years. (C. 5.) On July 28, 2021, Lawrences probation officer filed a delinquency petition, alleging that Lawrence had committed a “technical violation” by failing to “submit to treatment and monitoring” as required by his “modified” conditions of probation. (C. 5.) Specifically, according to the petition, on June 10, 2020, “Lawrences probation was modified [and he was] to complete a 12-month residential substance abuse rehabilitation program.” (C. 5.) The petition also alleged that this was Lawrences fourth probation violation, three of which were based on his failure to submit to treatment and monitoring, and the other was based on his commission of a new criminal offense. In addition, the petition alleged that Lawrences probation had been modified twice because of his prior violations. (C. 6.)
Lawrence was represented by appointed counsel at his probation-revocation hearing, which was held on September 7, 2021. (C. 12; R. 2.) Although neither Lawrences delinquency petition nor any court orders were admitted into evidence, the following testimony was presented.
Lawrences original probation officer testified that he had reviewed Lawrences initial probation order containing the conditions with him, and that Lawrence had signed the order. (R. 5.) Lawrences probation order, which was admitted into evidence, required Lawrence to, among other things, generally “submit to behavioral treatment, substance-abuse treatment, Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring and other treatment deemed necessary by the court or Probation Officer.” (C. 35.)
Lawrences current probation officer testified that this was the third delinquency petition filed against Lawrence for “failure to submit to treatment and monitoring” (R. 10) and that the instant petition was filed because Lawrence specifically “failed to complete the Hope Recovery program.” (R. 7.) His probation officer further testified that a June 10, 2021, order had “modified” Lawrences probation, requiring Lawrence to “enter and complete a six-month residential rehab program.” (R. 12.)
The drug-court coordinator testified that, after pleading guilty to another criminal offense in a different case, Lawrence was placed in the drug-court program and was “ordered to do a 12-month rehab.” (R. 14.) According to her “sources,” Lawrence left one program, was terminated from another program, and never began the latest program he was ordered to report to in June 2021. (R. 14-16.) In addition, the drug-court coordinator stated that she was testifying about another one of Lawrences cases, CC-20-164. (R. 14-16.) No sentencing or probation-modification orders were admitted at Lawrences hearing.
Lawrence did not testify at the hearing, but he argued that the State had presented “nothing other than hearsay.” (R. 21.) Lawrence also argued that he had not received proper notice of the conditions of his probation because the circuit courts June 10, 2021, order “just said that hes to be held until rehab,” but “[i]t doesnt say how long hes got to go, and it doesnt say where hes got to go.” (R. 22.) Finally, Lawrence argued that failing to submit to treatment and monitoring is a technical offense and that, even if he violated his probation, he was subject “to only a 45-day dunk” because he “had no dunks prior to this” and, further, that the “[t]ermination from alternative programs” provision of § 13A-5-8.1, Ala. Code 1975, did not apply to probation. (R. 21, 25.) The States response was, generally, that “by not availing himself of the many opportunities he has had to go to rehab,” Lawrence “has shown that he has no interest in rehab.” (R. 23.) The States only specific argument, which was unsupported by any document, was that Lawrence was to be “held in the 19 case until he ․ obtained bed space in a rehab ․ [H]e had bed space at Hope Recovery, was released, and did not thereafter report to that program.” (R. 23-24.)
On September 22, 2021, the circuit court issued a written order, finding that Lawrence had “violated the condition of his probation that he submit to treatment and monitoring as ordered by this Court by failing to enter and complete the previously-ordered twelve (12) month residential substance abuse rehabilitation program.” (C. 25.) The circuit court stated that it was revoking Lawrences probation because it believed, under “§ 13A-5-8.1, Ala. Code 1975, the limitation on revocation of probation [for technical violations] does not apply.” (C. 25.)
On October 13, 2021, Lawrence moved the court to reconsider his probation revocation, arguing that “[t]he only evidence indicating [he] did not, in fact, enter a six (6) months residential rehabilitation program pursuant to the June 10, 2021, probation modification order were the hearsay statements” of his probation officer. (C. 27-29.) Lawrence further argued that “[t]here was no testimony that a probation officer reviewed the probation modification dated June 10, 2021, with [him] nor was a probation modification order/contract entered into evidence signed by” him, and, thus, his probation could not be revoked under Rules 27.1 and 27.6, Ala. R. Crim. P. (C. 29.) Lawrence also argued that, even if he violated probation, it was a technical violation, warranting a dunk under § 15-22-54(e), Ala. Code 1975, not revocation under § 13A-5-8.1. (C. 30-31.) The circuit court denied Lawrences motion. (C. 42.) This appeal follows. (C. 36.)
Standard of Review
“A probationer is entitled to minimum standards of due process, but not the higher standards of a formal trial.” Beckham v. State, 872 So. 2d 208, 210 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Williams v. State, 673 So. 2d 829, 830 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995)).
““A proceeding to revoke probation is not a criminal prosecution, and we have no statute requiring a formal trial. Upon a hearing of this character, the court is not bound by strict rules of evidence, and the alleged violation of a valid condition of probation need not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“Martin v. State, 46 Ala. App. 310, 312, 241 So. 2d 339, 341 (Ala. Crim. App. 1970) (quoting State v. Duncan, 270 N.C. 241, 154 S.E.2d 53 (1967) (citation omitted)). Under that standard, the trial court need “only to be reasonably satisfied from the evidence that the probationer has violated the conditions of his probation.” Armstrong v. State, 294 Ala. 100, 103, 312 So. 2d 620, 623 (1975).
“Ex parte J.J.D., 778 So. 2d 240, 242 (Ala. 2000).”
Singleton v. State, 209 So. 3d 529, 533 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015).
“Absent a clear abuse of discretion, a reviewing court will not disturb a trial courts conclusions in a probation-revocation proceeding, including the determination whether to revoke, modify, or continue the probation. See, e.g., Ex parte J.J.D., 778 So. 2d 240 (Ala. 2000) (holding that [ ] a trial courts order in a probation-revocation proceeding will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion); and Moore v. State, 432 So. 2d 552, 553 (Ala. Crim. App. 1983), quoting Wright v. State, 349 So. 2d 124, 125 (Ala. Crim. App. 1977) ([o]nly a gross abuse of discretion will justify the reviewing court in disturbing the trial courts conclusions.) A trial court abuses its discretion only when its decision is based on an erroneous conclusion of law or where the record contains no evidence on which it rationally could have based its decision. See State v. Jude, 686 So. 2d 528 (Ala. Crim. App.); Dowdy v. Gilbert Engg Co., 372 So. 2d 11 (Ala. 1979).”
Williams v. State, 895 So. 2d 1012, 1016 (Ala. Crim. App. 2004).
Analysis
On appeal, Lawrence argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by revoking his probation because: (1) the circuit court revoked his probation based solely on hearsay, (2) nothing in the record showed that he was provided written notice, under Rules 27.1 and 27.6(e), that he was to complete either a 12-month or a 6-month residential rehabilitation program, and (3) the circuit court erroneously relied on § 13A-5-8.1 to revoke his probation instead of ordering a “45-day dunk” as required by § 15-22-54. Each of these arguments was preserved below, both at Lawrences probation-revocation hearing and in his timely motion to reconsider. However, this Court need not address the first issue Lawrence raises, that his revocation was based solely on hearsay,
1
because his second and third arguments require the reversal of his probation revocation for the reasons set forth below.
Lawrence argues that he did not receive proper written notice, as required by Rules 27.1 and 27.6(e), Ala. R. Crim. P., of the modification of his conditions of probation, allegedly requiring him to complete a residential rehabilitation program of any length, much less a 12-month program. Accordingly, Lawrence argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by revoking his probation. We agree.
Rule 27.1 provides that “the court may impose on the probationer such conditions and regulations as will promote the probationers rehabilitation and protect the public.” However,
“[a]ll conditions of probation must be incorporated into a courts written order of probation, and a copy thereof must be given to the probationer. In addition, the court or probation officer shall explain to the probationer the purpose and scope of the imposed conditions and regulations and the consequence of probationers violation of those conditions and regulations.”
Id. (emphasis added). Likewise, Rule 27.2, Ala. R. Crim. P., requires that a probationer be given a “written copy of any order of modification or clarification.” (Emphasis added.) Finally, Rule 27.6(e) expressly states that “probation shall not be revoked for violation of a condition or regulation if the probationer had not received a written copy of the condition or regulation.” (Emphasis added.) Moreover, as this Court has explained: “The requirement that a probationer receive a written copy of the terms and conditions of probation is mandatory.” Grice v. State, 275 So. 3d 1167, 1169, (Ala. Crim. App. 2018) (emphasis added) (citing Byrd v. State, 675 So. 2d 83 (Ala. Crim. App. 1995)).
At Lawrences hearing, Lawrences initial probation order (requiring him to generally submit to substance-abuse treatment and monitoring) was entered into evidence. Lawrences original probation officer testified that Lawrence received those conditions of probation, reviewed them, and signed the order. However, no written order modifying Lawrences probation to require him to enter any specific rehabilitation program for any specified time to remain on probation was ever entered into evidence. Nor was any evidence presented to show that Lawrence was ever provided written notice, or any notice, of any of the circuit courts modifications of his conditions of probation. Likewise, there was never any testimony from his probation officer that she had reviewed any modified probation requirements with Lawrence as required by Rule 27.1. Moreover, the circuit court never took judicial notice that it had previously provided Lawrence written notice of any modifications, much less the specific 12-month requirement, which provided the basis for the circuit courts revocation of Lawrences probation.
The record in this case indicates only confusion as to what was required of Lawrence to remain on probation, and in which of Lawrences cases. Specifically, Lawrences probation officer testified that he was required to “enter and complete a 6-month residential rehabilitation program (R. 12),” but the drug-court coordinator testified that Lawrence was ordered to complete a 12-month program, although she testified that was in an entirely different case. (R. 14.) (Emphasis added.) When Lawrences counsel argued at the hearing that Lawrence had no notice of what was required of him as far as “how long” and “where” he was to participate in a rehabilitation program, the State was unable to provide any specific details, stating only that Lawrence was to enter “Hope Recovery” “in the 19 case” when it had “bed space.”
2
(R. 22-24.) Despite the lack of notice and the obvious confusion as to the terms of the conditions of Lawrences probation, the circuit court revoked Lawrences probation because, it found, he had violated probation by not completing a 12-month residential rehabilitation program. (C. 25.)
The confusion in this record supports Lawrences assertion, both below and on appeal, that he did not receive proper written notice of his probation requirements under Rules 27.1 and 27.6 (e). Nor was the 12-month-residential-rehabilitation condition of probation and the potential consequences of noncompliance explained to Lawrence as required by Rule 27.1. Indeed, the parties and the circuit court disagreed as to the condition of probation Lawrence was to comply with in this case. We note that this confusion is exactly what the rules seek to prevent. The Committee Comments explain that the purpose of Rule 27.1 is “to reinforce the probationers understanding ․ and the expectation of the court” and, thereby “alleviate the courts and the probation officers supervisory burden by eliminating some unnecessary violations caused by probationers lack of understanding.” (Emphasis added.) In sum, the circuit court abused its discretion by revoking Lawrences probation based on his failure to complete a probation condition for which he had received neither written notice nor an explanation of the condition and the consequences of noncompliance as required by Rules 27.1 and 27.6(e).
In finding that the circuit court abused its discretion in revoking Lawrences probation, we reject the States request for us to take judicial notice of the circuit courts records in this and other cases involving Lawrence that, according to the State, would show that the circuit court issued written orders modifying Lawrences probation. Although this Court may take judicial notice of its own records, an appellate court may not ordinarily take judicial notice of another courts records. As the Alabama Supreme Court has stated:
“It has long been our rule that an appellate court may not rely on facts outside the record ․ Moreover, a court may not ordinarily take judicial notice of the records of another court. See Belyeu v. Boman, 41 So. 2d 290, 291 (1949) (holding that the Supreme Court of Alabama may not take judicial notice of the records of the circuit court unless those records appear in the clerks record or in the records of the Supreme Court); Worthington v. Amerson, 741 So. 2d 437, 438 n. 2 (Ala. Civ. App. 1999) (“Generally, a court may not take judicial notice of the records of another court.”).”
Green Tree-AL LLC v. White, 55 So. 3d 1186, 1193 (Ala. 2010) (quoting Ex parte Jett, 5 So. 3d 640, 645-46 (Ala. 2007) (See, J., concurring specially)). Thus, this Court will not take judicial notice of the circuit courts records in other cases involving Lawrence. We note, however, that nothing prevents the circuit court from taking judicial notice of its own records on remand and putting that notice on the record for potential appellate review. But, we caution that, even if a written order modifying Lawrences probation was issued in another case, that order alone may not establish that Lawrence received written notice as required for revocation under Rules 27.1 and 27.6(e) or that “the court or probation officer [ ] explain[ed] to [Lawrence] the purpose and scope of the imposed conditions and regulations and the consequences of [his] violation of those conditions” under Rule 27.1.
Lawrence also argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by revoking his probation under § 13A-5-8.1 instead of ordering a 45-day dunk under § 15-22-54(e)(1)(d), Ala. Code 1975. We agree.
Section 15-22-54 expressly governs probation -- the “period of probation,” “conditions of probation,” “probation violation,” “revocation” of probation, and other “sanctions.” Section 15-22-54(e) also specifically governs the actions a circuit court may take upon “finding sufficient evidence to support a probation violation.” According to § 15-22-54(e)(1)(b), “[i]f the underlying offense was a violent offense as defined in Section 12-25-32[, Ala. Code 1975,] and classified as a Class A felony, a sex offense pursuant to Section 15-20A-5, [Ala. Code 1975,] or aggravated theft by deception pursuant to Section 13A-8-2.1, [Ala. Code 1975,] [upon a finding that the defendant has violated his probation,] the court shall revoke probation and require the probationer to serve the balance of the term for which he or she was originally sentenced.” Likewise, § 15-22-54(e)(1)(c) provides that, “[i]f the probation violation was for being arrested or convicted of a new offense or absconding, the court may revoke probation and require the probationer to serve the balance of the term for which he or she was originally sentenced.” However, “[f]or all other probationers, the court may impose a period of confinement of no more than 45 consecutive days to be served in a residential transition center ․ or a consenting county jail.” § 15-22-54(e)(1)(d) (emphasis added). Moreover, the probation-violation statute expressly provides that “[t]he court may not revoke probation [for a technical violation] unless the defendant has previously received a total of three periods of confinement.” § 15-22-54(e)(2) (emphasis added).
The record indicates that Lawrence was serving probation for a Class D felony drug offense and that he violated probation by committing a “technical violation,” not completing a drug-treatment program. The record does not indicate that the court took judicial notice that Lawrence had received 3 prior 45-day dunks as allowed by § 15-22-54(e)(2). Accordingly, had Lawrence received proper written notice and an explanation of his probation modification and sufficient evidence had been shown that he did not comply, Lawrence would be subject to confinement for “no more than 45 consecutive days,” not revocation as ordered by the circuit court.
In arguing that Lawrence was subject to revocation, as opposed to a 45-day “dunk,” the State asked the circuit court to apply § 13A-5-8.1 to Lawrences technical violation instead of § 15-22-54. The circuit courts written order expressly applied § 13A-5-8.1, Ala. Code 1975, in revoking Lawrences probation. The States continued argument on appeal, that Lawrences probation could be revoked under § 13A-5-8.1 because Lawrence failed to complete a court-ordered alternative-treatment program, is not well taken. We find that the circuit court abused its discretion by applying § 13A-5-8.1 which, by its plain language, is a sentencing statute, instead of § 15-22-54 which, by its plain language, is a probation statute.
The “fundamental principles of statutory construction” are well established.
““It is this Courts responsibility to give effect to the legislative intent whenever that intent is manifested. State v. Union Tank Car Co., 281 Ala. 246, 201 So. 2d 402, 403 (1967). When interpreting a statute, this Court must read the statute as a whole because statutory language depends on context; we will presume that the Legislature knew the meaning of the words it used when it enacted the statute. Ex parte Jackson, 614 So. 2d 405, 406-07 (Ala. 1993). Additionally, when a term is not defined in a statute, the commonly accepted definition of the term should be applied. Republic Steel Corp. v. Horn, 268 Ala. 279, 105 So. 2d 446, 447 (1958). Furthermore, we must give the words in a statute their plain, ordinary, and commonly understood meaning, and where plain language is used we must interpret it to mean exactly what it says. Ex parte Shelby County Health Care Auth., 850 So. 2d 332 (Ala. 2002).””
“Bean Dredging, L.L.C. v. Alabama Dept of Revenue, 855 So. 2d 513, 517 (Ala. 2003).”
Berry v. State, 299 So. 3d 336, 341 (Ala. Crim. App. 2020) (quoting Ex parte Chesnut, 208 So. 3d 624, 640 (Ala. 2016) (emphasis added)). Moreover, “ [s]tatutes should be construed in harmony with other statutes in effect, so far as is practical. “ Bandy v. City of Birmingham, 73 So. 3d 1233, 1240 (Ala. 2011) (quoting Siegelman v. Folmar, 432 So. 2d 1246, 1249 (Ala. 1983)).
When read as a whole, and by its plain language, § 15-22-54 addresses “probation,” the “period of probation,” “probation violation,” and revocation of “probation.” For example, § 15-22-54(e)(1)(c) provides: “If the probation violation was for being arrested or convicted of a new offense or absconding, the court may revoke probation and require the probationer to serve the balance of the term for which he or she was originally sentenced, or any portion thereof, in a state prison facility, calculated from the date of his or her rearrest as a delinquent probationer.” “For all other probationers, the court may impose a period of confinement of no more than 45 consecutive days to be served in a residential transition center ․ or a consenting county jail.” § 15-22-54(e)(1)(d). In addition, a probation revocation does not result in the imposition of a new “sentence.” Rather the circuit court may only revoke probation, requiring a probationer to “serve the balance of the term for which he or she was originally sentenced, or any portion thereof.” § 15-22-54(e)(1)(b) and(c). Moreover, “[t]he total time spent in confinement ․ may not exceed the term of the defendants original sentence.” § 15-22-54(e)(3).
By contrast, § 13A-5-8.1, by its language and read as a whole, applies to “defendants,” not probationers. In fact, § 13A-5-8.1 does not use the word “probation,” or any derivative thereof, once, but, rather, refers to confinement after the imposition of a “sentence.” Under § 13A-5-8.1, “[i]f a defendant is participating in a ․ court ordered rehabilitative program and is subsequently terminated from that program, the court may then order that the defendant be confined in ․ a prison,” § 13A-5-8.1 further explains that the court should then “impose a sentence length that complies with either “Section 13A-5-6, [Ala. Code 1975, establishing the minimum and maximum sentences for felonies], Section 13A-5-9, [Ala. Code 1975, establishing sentences for the habitual felony offenders], or the sentencing guidelines, whichever is applicable.” (Emphasis added.) Section 13A-5-8.1 thus presumes that, following termination from a treatment program, the trial court will then sentence the defendant in accordance with either the sentencing statutes or the sentencing guidelines. Section 13A-5-8.1 also provides that courts may impose a “split sentence“ or, notably, allows a defendants “sentence“ to be “suspend[ed]” in accordance with § 15-22-50, Ala. Code 1975, a probation statute. Finally, § 13A-5-8.1 notes that nothing limits a courts discretion to order a “defendant” to participate in a rehabilitative or other alternative program, “whether pre-trial, pre-trial adjudication, or as a condition of bond.” (Emphasis added.) There is no indication that the Alabama Legislature intended § 13A-5-8.1 to apply to probation revocations. This Court thus agrees with Lawrence that § 13A-5-8.1 does not apply to probationers but, rather, to “defendants” who are ordered into an alternative program “pre-trial,” “as a condition of bond,” or who are between conviction and sentencing, and who may be sentenced after termination from such a program. See, e.g., Duncan v. State, 277 So. 3d 995, 1000 (Ala. 2018) (holding that § 13A-5-8.1 authorizes a “sentencing court” to sentence a defendant who, before being sentenced for his guilty-plea convictions, was terminated from a drug-court program to prison or another “jail-type institution”).
Although § 15-22-54 may refer to “defendants” and “probationers” interchangeably, § 13A-5-6 does not refer to “sentences” and “probation revocations” interchangeably. Nor does § 13A-5-6 refer to “probationers,” only “defendants.” Moreover, a probation revocation does not result in the imposition of a new sentence and the base sentence originally imposed cannot be amended. Likewise, the language in § 13A-5-8.1, that “[n]othing in this section shall limit the courts discretion with regard to ․ a court supervised evidence-based treatment program” does not suggest that another section, § 15-22-54, which expressly governs probation, cannot so limit the courts discretion. (Emphasis added.) In fact, § 15-22-54 expressly limits the circumstances under which probation may be revoked. Thus, the plain language in these statutes indicates that each has its own field of operation. Indeed, the States suggested interpretation of § 13A-5-8.1 fails because it would clearly conflict with the express provisions established in § 15-22-54, limiting the circumstances under which probation may be revoked, and, thus, violate a rule of statutory interpretation that statutes should be construed harmoniously. See Bandy, supra.
We further note that § 13A-5-8.1 became effective on January 30, 2016, and it has never been amended. Conversely, § 15-22-54 has been amended twice since that date, and it still recognizes no exception, allowing for a probation revocation based on a termination from an alternative-treatment program. Indeed, although § 15-22-54(f) expressly recognizes that a probationer who violates the terms of probation may be placed in an alternative-treatment program, § 15-22-54 never references § 13A-5-8.1, much less includes the failure to complete such a program as one of the circumstances that will allow for revocation instead of a 45-day dunk. There is simply no evidence that § 13A-5-8.1 is intended to add to the grounds for probation revocation that are expressly provided in § 15-22-54.
The State also argues that § 13A-5-8.1 applies to probation revocation because “[n]othing in § 13A-5-8.1 prohibits a trial court from ordering the confinement -- including the remainder of a term of confinement that had been previously subject to probation -- of an offender who is terminated from a court-ordered rehabilitation program while on probation.” (States rehearing brief, p. 9.) Yet, this argument, that nothing in § 13A-5-8.1 expressly excludes probation, does not support the States conclusion that § 13A-5-8.1 applies to probation.
In sum, we hold that probation violations and revocations are governed by § 15-22-54, a probation statute, not by § 13-5.8.1, a sentencing statute. Under § 15-22-54(e), in the absence of proof that Lawrence had committed a new criminal offense or absconded from supervision, his probation could not be revoked based on a technical violation in the absence of evidence that he had previously received three “45-day dunks” for technical violations or unless Lawrences underlying offense was listed in § 15-22-54(e)(1)(b), which it is not. Thus, the circuit court abused its discretion by revoking Lawrences probation.
Conclusion
The circuit court abused its discretion by revoking Lawrences probation for his failure to complete a 12-month residential rehabilitation program when the record indicates that Lawrence was not provided proper written notice of the modification of his probation to include this specific condition. The circuit court also abused its discretion by revoking Lawrences probation for a technical violation based on a statute that is inapplicable to probation. For these reasons, we reverse the circuit courts order revoking Lawrences probation, and we remand this case for probation-revocation proceedings consistent with this opinion.
On remand, the circuit court may conduct a new revocation hearing, and the State may present evidence, “if it desires,” that Lawrence received written notice of the modified condition of his probation and that either the court or a probation officer notified Lawrence of the condition, as well as evidence that Lawrence violated that condition of probation. See Ex parte Belcher, 556 So. 2d 366, 369 (Ala. 1989). Any further revocation for technical violations would be subject to the limitations outlined in § 15-22-54. We also note that “[o]ur remand of the case is without prejudice to the States right to amend its petition to revoke [Lawrences] probation to include matters that may have transpired since the time of the holding of the first revocation hearing.” Id. at 369.
APPLICATION FOR REHEARING OVERRULED; OPINION OF FEBRUARY 10, 2023, WITHDRAWN; OPINION SUBSTITUTED; REVERSED AND REMANDED.
FOOTNOTES
1
. “Hearsay evidence may be admitted in the discretion of the court, though ․ hearsay evidence cannot be the sole support of revoking probation.” Killeen v. State, 28 So. 3d 823, 824 (Ala. Crim. App. 2009) (emphasis added). Although “the State does not have to prove every element of the alleged new [violation] [at a probation-revocation hearing] with nonhearsay evidence,” “the State must present sufficient nonhearsay evidence connecting the defendant to the commission of the alleged new [violation].” Walker v. State, 294 So. 3d 825, 832 (Ala. Crim. App. 2019).
2
. The drug-court coordinator testified that Lawrence was “released on June 10th to report to rehab. And it was our understanding that he would be reporting to Hope Recovery because we had an admission letter ․ that they had accepted him back into their program.” (R. 15.) The coordinator further testified that she was later “notified by Kayla at probation ․ that [Lawrence] never reported.” (R. 15.) Notably, there was no testimony that Lawrences “admission letter” meant the facility currently had “bed space.” Nor was there any nonhearsay evidence that Lawrence did not report to that facility.
COLE, Judge.
Windom, P.J., and Kellum, McCool, and Minor, JJ., concur.