Monesha Lackley v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: August 23, 2012
• Docket: A12A1296
• Status: Published

Opinion

SECOND DIVISION BARNES, P. J., ADAMS and MCFADDEN, JJ.

NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. (Court of Appeals Rule 4 (b) and Rule 37 (b), February 21, 2008) http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/

August 23, 2012

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A12A1296. LACKLEY v. THE STATE.

MCFADDEN, Judge.

Monesha Lackley was indicted for felony murder, aggravated assault and

armed robbery. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the state dismissed the felony murder

and aggravated assault charges, and Lackley pled guilty to armed robbery. The trial

court imposed a 20-year sentence, ordering Lackley to serve 15 years in confinement

and the remaining 5 years on probation. Lackley filed a motion to modify the

sentence, which the trial court denied. Lackley appeals, arguing that the sentence of

15 years in confinement violates the prohibition of the Eighth Amendment of the

United States Constitution against cruel and unusual punishment. However, the 20-

year sentence does not exceed the permissible maximum for the offense to which

Lackley pled guilty. See OCGA § 16-8-41 (b) (sentencing range of 10 to 20 years for armed robbery). A “sentence which falls within statutorily mandated parameters is not

subject to attack on Eighth Amendment grounds.” (Citations and punctuation

omitted.) Inglett v. State, 239 Ga. App. 524, 529 (9) (521 SE2d 241) (1999).

Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying the motion to modify the legally

appropriate sentence for Lackley’s guilty plea to armed robbery. See Trimble v. State,

274 Ga. App. 536, 537 (1) (618 SE2d 163) (2005), disapproved in part on other

grounds, Miller v. State, 285 Ga. 285, 287 (676 SE2d 173) (2009).

Judgment affirmed. Barnes, P. J., and Adams, J., concur.