State v. Cook

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State, Respondent,

v.

Gene Donald Cook, Jr., Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2015-001922

Appeal From Edgefield County
R. Knox McMahon, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2017-UP-174
Submitted February 1, 2017 – Filed April 19, 2017

AFFIRMED

Appellate Defender John Harrison Strom, of Columbia,
for Appellant.

Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Senior
Assistant Deputy Attorney General John Benjamin Aplin,
both of Columbia; and Solicitor Donald V. Myers, of
Lexington, all for Respondent.
PER CURIAM: Gene Donald Cook, Jr. appeals the imposition of $9,999 in
restitution following his guilty plea for receiving stolen goods valued between
$2,000 and $10,000,1 arguing: (1) the restitution court abused its discretion by
ordering restitution in excess of the value of the stolen goods Cook admitted to
receiving; and (2) the restitution court erred by ordering restitution of $9,999
because it overruled the earlier sentence of the plea court. We affirm2 pursuant to
Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities:

1. As to whether the restitution court abused its discretion by ordering restitution in
excess of the value of the stolen goods Cook admitted to receiving: State v.
Morgan, 417 S.C. 338, 341, 790 S.E.2d 27, 29 (Ct. App. 2016) ("A sentence will
not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion when the ruling is based on an
error of law."); State v. Cox, 326 S.C. 440, 442, 484 S.E.2d 108, 109 (Ct. App.
1997) ("The [restitution court] has broad discretion in determining the manner,
method, and amount of restitution."); id. at 443, 484 S.E.2d at 110 (holding joint
and several liability of codefendants for restitution is proper to assure victims are
fully compensated).

2. As to whether the restitution court erred by ordering restitution of $9,999
because it overruled the earlier sentence of the guilty plea: State v. Dunbar, 356
S.C. 138, 142, 587 S.E.2d 691, 693-94 (2003) ("In order for an issue to be
preserved for appellate review, it must have been raised to and ruled upon by the
[restitution court]. Issues not raised and ruled upon in the [restitution] court will
not be considered on appeal.").

AFFIRMED.

LOCKEMY, C.J., and HUFF and THOMAS, JJ., concur.

1
The sentencing sheet cited the proper statute but incorrectly noted the subsection
and value of the stolen goods to be between $1,000 and $5,000. However, the
record reflects he pled guilty to receiving stolen goods valued between $2,000 and
$10,000.
2
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.