Opinion
A93A0093.
DECIDED APRIL 29, 1993.
Burglary, etc. Madison Superior Court. Before Judge Bryant.
Lavender Lavender, Robert W. Lavender, Michelle C. Feinberg, for appellant.
Lindsay A. Tise, Jr., District Attorney, John H. Bailey, Jr., Francis J. George, Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.
Bridges was charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft by taking. He entered a plea of guilty on August 3, 1992 and was sentenced to seven years, five years in prison and two years of probation. With respect to the burglary plea, the portion of the judgment entitled "Other Conditions of Probation" included a fine, probation fee and court costs. The order also stated that "[a] surcharge of $85 is to be paid for County Jail operation, staffing, and construction.... Restitution to be determined and paid to either victim or insurance carrier."
1. In his first enumeration, citing OCGA §§ 17-14-8 through 17-14-10, Bridges argues that the trial court erred in ordering him to pay restitution in the absence of a presentence hearing, despite his request. In response, the State argues that Bridges' argument is premature, since Bridges has not been ordered to pay a specific amount of restitution.
Cannon v. State, 246 Ga. 754 (3) ( 272 S.E.2d 709) (1980), is controlling. "We find that [OCGA §§ 17-14-8 through 17-14-10] contemplate a hearing and specific written findings by the court in determining whether it will order restitution and, if so, the amount thereof." Cannon, supra at 756. The trial court did not comply with those requirements. "Under Patterson v. State, 161 Ga. App. 85, 86 ( 289 S.E.2d 270) (1982), the portion of the sentence imposing restitution must be reversed and the case remanded for a hearing on the issue and for entry of specific written findings pursuant to OCGA § 17-14-8." Taylor v. State, 182 Ga. App. 494, 496 (4) ( 356 S.E.2d 216) (1987); see also Garrett v. State, 175 Ga. App. 400 ( 333 S.E.2d 432) (1985). Our conclusion that the findings under OCGA § 17-14-10 were necessary before ordering restitution is also consistent with the Supreme Court's holding in Harris v. State, 261 Ga. 859 (1) ( 413 S.E.2d 439) (1992).
2. In his second enumeration, citing Woods v. State, 204 Ga. App. 415 (2) ( 419 S.E.2d 513) (1992), Bridges claims, and the State concurs, that the trial court erred in ordering a surcharge for operation, staffing and construction of the county's jail.
We agree. "There are no statutes which specifically authorize charging criminal defendants with the costs for operation, staffing and construction of jails. This case is very similar to and is controlled by Walden v. State, 258 Ga. 503, 504 ( 371 S.E.2d 852) (1988). We hold that the $185 fee is not taxable to Woods in the absence of specific statutory authority for imposing such a fee, and therefore reverse the trial court's order to the extent it holds otherwise." Woods, supra at 417.
Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded in part. Pope, C. J., and Birdsong, P. J., concur.