STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 19-KA-116
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
KEVIN ALEXANDER COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 11,265, DIVISION "C" HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY, JUDGE PRESIDING
October 02, 2019
ROBERT A. CHAISSON JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker, Robert A. Chaisson, and Stephen J. Windhorst
AFFIRMED RAC FHW SJW COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut Justin B. LaCour
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, KEVIN ALEXANDER Emily Posner CHAISSON, J.
In this appeal, defendant, Kevin Alexander, seeks review of the thirty-two
year sentence that was imposed as a result of his guilty plea to manslaughter. For
the reasons that follow, we find no merit to the arguments raised by defendant
relating to his sentencing, and accordingly, we affirm his conviction and sentence.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On August 15, 2011, a St. John the Baptist Parish Grand Jury returned an
indictment charging defendant with second degree murder, in violation of La. R.S.
14:30.1. Defendant pled not guilty at the arraignment. However, on March 14,
2016, defendant withdrew his not guilty plea and, after being advised of his rights,
pled guilty to the amended charge of manslaughter, in violation of La. R.S. 14:31.
The trial court thereafter sentenced defendant, in accordance with the plea
agreement, to imprisonment for thirty-two years in the Department of Corrections.1
The trial court ordered the sentence to be served in accordance with La. R.S.
15:571.3(D), in that defendant would not be eligible for diminution of sentence
since this was his second crime of violence, and further ordered the sentence to run
concurrently with defendant’s other sentences. Defendant was subsequently
granted an out-of-time appeal2 and now seeks review of his sentence.
1 This Court has held that when the trial judge states that the defendant is sentenced to the “Department of Corrections,” the sentence is necessarily at hard labor. State v. Jamison, 17-49 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/17/17), 222 So.3d 908, 909 n.2.
2 On March 13, 2018, defendant filed an application for post-conviction relief, in which he raised claims relating to ineffective assistance of counsel, an unconstitutional guilty plea, and an unconstitutionally excessive sentence. The trial court denied relief on relator’s application for post-conviction relief on May 16, 2018. Defendant thereafter filed a motion for reconsideration of this denial, which the trial court denied on June 14, 2018. Defendant filed a writ application with this Court challenging both denials. On August 28, 2018, this Court granted defendant’s writ application for the limited purpose of vacating the trial court’s May 16, 2018 and June 14, 2018 orders and remanding the matter for the trial court to construe defendant’s application for post-conviction relief as a request for an out-of-time appeal. See Kevin Alexander, Jr. v. Robert Tanner, Warden, 18-KH-475 (La. App. 5 Cir. 8/28/18) (unpublished writ disposition). In response to this Court’s disposition, the trial court, on September 11, 2018, granted defendant’s motion for out-of-time appeal.
19-KA-116 1 First, defendant contends that his sentence of thirty-two years at hard labor is
unconstitutionally excessive, noting that the record “is replete with documentation
that demonstrates his diminished culpability and capacity for rehabilitation.” In
support of his excessive sentence argument, defendant points out that he was only
seventeen years old at the time of the offense and further that he had many
mitigating factors in his background that the trial court was unaware of at the time
of sentencing. In particular, defense counsel notes that defendant suffered with
undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance
abuse disorders. Further, defendant was exposed to traumatic domestic abuse,
drug use, and neglect that changed the trajectory of his life.
While we are sympathetic to the difficulties faced by this defendant, we
nonetheless note that defendant, as part of a plea bargain with the State, agreed to
the imposition of a thirty-two year sentence. The record reflects that defendant
was originally charged with second degree murder, which exposed him to the
possibility of life in prison. However, the State thereafter amended the charge to
manslaughter, which substantially reduced defendant’s sentencing exposure, and in
exchange, defendant agreed to plead guilty. During the guilty plea proceedings,
defendant was advised of his possible sentencing exposure of forty years and was
further advised that upon acceptance of his guilty plea to manslaughter, he would
be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of thirty-two years in the Department of
Corrections with credit for time served from April 1, 2011, to June 16, 2011, and
from July 18, 2011, to March 14, 2016. In addition, defendant was informed that
his sentence would be served in accordance with La. R.S. 15:571.3(D), in that he
would not be eligible for diminution of sentence since this was his second crime of
violence, and that his sentence would run concurrently with other sentences being
served. Defendant was thereafter sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement
as set forth in the record at the time of the plea.
19-KA-116 2 La. C.Cr.P. art. 881.2(A)(2) clearly states: “The defendant cannot appeal or
seek review of a sentence imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was
set forth in the record at the time of the plea.” Defendant argues that Article
881.2(A)(2) does not and cannot categorically ban the appellate review of the
constitutionality of a criminal sentence regardless of whether the court imposed the
sentence in conformity with a plea agreement.3 However, this Court has
consistently and recently held in numerous cases that Article 881.2(A)(2) precludes
a defendant from seeking review of his sentence imposed in conformity with a plea
agreement that was set forth in the record at the time of the plea. See State v.
Carter, 18-541 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/29/19), 274 So.3d 831, 836; State v. Lawrence,
18-372 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/15/19), 273 So.3d 548, 551; State v. Cuza, 18-716 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 4/24/19), 271 So.3d 369, 375; and State v. Black, 18-494 (La. App. 5
Cir. 2/6/19), 265 So.3d 1014, 1017. During the guilty plea proceedings in the
present case, the trial court specifically advised defendant of the restrictions set
forth in Article 881.2(A)(2) as follows:
By agreeing to this document, you also are telling the Court that you understand that you cannot appeal or seek the reconsideration or review of the sentence if it is imposed in conformity with this agreement. However, you do have 30 days after sentencing to file a Motion to Appeal a sentence, if it is something you have not bargained for or something you have not agreed to.
In the present case, the record is clear that defendant’s sentence was imposed
in conformity with the plea agreement that was set forth in the record at the time of
the plea. Therefore, in accordance with Article 881.2(A)(2) and the well-
established jurisprudence of this Court, defendant is now precluded from
challenging his sentence on appeal.
3 Defense counsel cites State v. Jackson, 07-975 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/15/08), 985 So.2d 246, 251, in support of this contention.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 19-KA-116
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
KEVIN ALEXANDER COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 11,265, DIVISION "C" HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY, JUDGE PRESIDING
October 02, 2019
ROBERT A. CHAISSON JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker, Robert A. Chaisson, and Stephen J. Windhorst
AFFIRMED RAC FHW SJW COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut Justin B. LaCour
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, KEVIN ALEXANDER Emily Posner CHAISSON, J.
In this appeal, defendant, Kevin Alexander, seeks review of the thirty-two
year sentence that was imposed as a result of his guilty plea to manslaughter. For
the reasons that follow, we find no merit to the arguments raised by defendant
relating to his sentencing, and accordingly, we affirm his conviction and sentence.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On August 15, 2011, a St. John the Baptist Parish Grand Jury returned an
indictment charging defendant with second degree murder, in violation of La. R.S.
14:30.1. Defendant pled not guilty at the arraignment. However, on March 14,
2016, defendant withdrew his not guilty plea and, after being advised of his rights,
pled guilty to the amended charge of manslaughter, in violation of La. R.S. 14:31.
The trial court thereafter sentenced defendant, in accordance with the plea
agreement, to imprisonment for thirty-two years in the Department of Corrections.1
The trial court ordered the sentence to be served in accordance with La. R.S.
15:571.3(D), in that defendant would not be eligible for diminution of sentence
since this was his second crime of violence, and further ordered the sentence to run
concurrently with defendant’s other sentences. Defendant was subsequently
granted an out-of-time appeal2 and now seeks review of his sentence.
1 This Court has held that when the trial judge states that the defendant is sentenced to the “Department of Corrections,” the sentence is necessarily at hard labor. State v. Jamison, 17-49 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/17/17), 222 So.3d 908, 909 n.2.
2 On March 13, 2018, defendant filed an application for post-conviction relief, in which he raised claims relating to ineffective assistance of counsel, an unconstitutional guilty plea, and an unconstitutionally excessive sentence. The trial court denied relief on relator’s application for post-conviction relief on May 16, 2018. Defendant thereafter filed a motion for reconsideration of this denial, which the trial court denied on June 14, 2018. Defendant filed a writ application with this Court challenging both denials. On August 28, 2018, this Court granted defendant’s writ application for the limited purpose of vacating the trial court’s May 16, 2018 and June 14, 2018 orders and remanding the matter for the trial court to construe defendant’s application for post-conviction relief as a request for an out-of-time appeal. See Kevin Alexander, Jr. v. Robert Tanner, Warden, 18-KH-475 (La. App. 5 Cir. 8/28/18) (unpublished writ disposition). In response to this Court’s disposition, the trial court, on September 11, 2018, granted defendant’s motion for out-of-time appeal.
19-KA-116 1 First, defendant contends that his sentence of thirty-two years at hard labor is
unconstitutionally excessive, noting that the record “is replete with documentation
that demonstrates his diminished culpability and capacity for rehabilitation.” In
support of his excessive sentence argument, defendant points out that he was only
seventeen years old at the time of the offense and further that he had many
mitigating factors in his background that the trial court was unaware of at the time
of sentencing. In particular, defense counsel notes that defendant suffered with
undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance
abuse disorders. Further, defendant was exposed to traumatic domestic abuse,
drug use, and neglect that changed the trajectory of his life.
While we are sympathetic to the difficulties faced by this defendant, we
nonetheless note that defendant, as part of a plea bargain with the State, agreed to
the imposition of a thirty-two year sentence. The record reflects that defendant
was originally charged with second degree murder, which exposed him to the
possibility of life in prison. However, the State thereafter amended the charge to
manslaughter, which substantially reduced defendant’s sentencing exposure, and in
exchange, defendant agreed to plead guilty. During the guilty plea proceedings,
defendant was advised of his possible sentencing exposure of forty years and was
further advised that upon acceptance of his guilty plea to manslaughter, he would
be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of thirty-two years in the Department of
Corrections with credit for time served from April 1, 2011, to June 16, 2011, and
from July 18, 2011, to March 14, 2016. In addition, defendant was informed that
his sentence would be served in accordance with La. R.S. 15:571.3(D), in that he
would not be eligible for diminution of sentence since this was his second crime of
violence, and that his sentence would run concurrently with other sentences being
served. Defendant was thereafter sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement
as set forth in the record at the time of the plea.
19-KA-116 2 La. C.Cr.P. art. 881.2(A)(2) clearly states: “The defendant cannot appeal or
seek review of a sentence imposed in conformity with a plea agreement which was
set forth in the record at the time of the plea.” Defendant argues that Article
881.2(A)(2) does not and cannot categorically ban the appellate review of the
constitutionality of a criminal sentence regardless of whether the court imposed the
sentence in conformity with a plea agreement.3 However, this Court has
consistently and recently held in numerous cases that Article 881.2(A)(2) precludes
a defendant from seeking review of his sentence imposed in conformity with a plea
agreement that was set forth in the record at the time of the plea. See State v.
Carter, 18-541 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/29/19), 274 So.3d 831, 836; State v. Lawrence,
18-372 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/15/19), 273 So.3d 548, 551; State v. Cuza, 18-716 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 4/24/19), 271 So.3d 369, 375; and State v. Black, 18-494 (La. App. 5
Cir. 2/6/19), 265 So.3d 1014, 1017. During the guilty plea proceedings in the
present case, the trial court specifically advised defendant of the restrictions set
forth in Article 881.2(A)(2) as follows:
By agreeing to this document, you also are telling the Court that you understand that you cannot appeal or seek the reconsideration or review of the sentence if it is imposed in conformity with this agreement. However, you do have 30 days after sentencing to file a Motion to Appeal a sentence, if it is something you have not bargained for or something you have not agreed to.
In the present case, the record is clear that defendant’s sentence was imposed
in conformity with the plea agreement that was set forth in the record at the time of
the plea. Therefore, in accordance with Article 881.2(A)(2) and the well-
established jurisprudence of this Court, defendant is now precluded from
challenging his sentence on appeal.
3 Defense counsel cites State v. Jackson, 07-975 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/15/08), 985 So.2d 246, 251, in support of this contention. In Jackson, this Court found that the defendant was not entitled to appellate review of his sentences since they were in conformity with his plea agreements pursuant to Article 881.2(A)(2). However, this Court thereafter reviewed the defendant’s sentences for constitutional excessiveness. We note that in Jackson, the defendant was specifically advised that he had thirty days to appeal his sentences, whereas in the instant case, the trial court informed defendant that he could not appeal or seek review of his sentence if it was imposed in conformity with the plea bargain agreement.
19-KA-116 3 Next, defendant asserts that his sentence is illegal under the provisions of
La. RS. 14:31 because the trial court denied him the opportunity for parole.
Defendant requests that this Court amend his sentence to reflect parole eligibility.
We have reviewed the record and find no support for defendant’s assertion that the
trial court sentenced him to thirty-two years without benefit of parole.
Specifically, the transcript, the minute entry, the uniform commitment order, and
the waiver of rights form do not reflect that the trial court restricted parole when
sentencing defendant on his manslaughter conviction. Since there is no indication
that the trial court restricted defendant’s parole eligibility on the manslaughter
conviction, there is nothing for this Court to amend.
Defendant contends that his current parole ineligibility is reflected on his
“master prison record.4“ However, “[v]enue in any action in which an individual
committed to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections contests the
computation of his sentence or sentences, discharge, good time dates, or any action
concerning parole shall be in the parish of East Baton Rouge.” La. R.S. 15:571.15.
In his appellate brief, defendant also argues that the trial court erred by
sentencing him without a sentencing hearing that complied with the United States
Supreme Court decisions in Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460, 479, 132 S.Ct. 2455,
2469, 183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012), and Montgomery v. Louisiana, -- U.S. -- , 136 S.Ct.
718, 193 L.Ed.2d 599 (2016). Defense counsel asserts that defendant was only
seventeen years old at the time of the crime and that he did not receive an
individualized sentencing hearing that accounted for his social history and capacity
to change.
4 A review of the “DPS&C Corrections Services Master Record” dated March 5, 2018, shows that defendant is also serving a twenty-seven and one-half year sentence for armed robbery. That sentence was imposed without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. See State v. Alexander, 12-836 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/23/13), 119 So.3d 698, 701, writ denied, 13-1981 (La. 3/21/14), 135 So.3d 614.
19-KA-116 4 With respect to an individualized sentencing hearing, in Miller, the United
States Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment forbids a sentencing
scheme that mandates life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile
homicide offenders, finding instead that the sentencing court must first hold a
hearing to consider mitigating factors, such as a defendant’s youth and attendant
characteristics, before imposing this severe penalty.5
In the instant case, defendant was sentenced to thirty-two years at hard labor
for a manslaughter conviction without restrictions on parole. He is not serving a
life sentence or its functional equivalent, and therefore, he has not been deprived of
a meaningful opportunity to secure release as a regular part of the rehabilitative
process. As such, defendant is not entitled to an individualized sentencing hearing
under Miller v. Alabama, supra.
Lastly, we have reviewed the record for errors patent and have found none
that warrant correction. La. C.Cr.P. art. 920; State v. Oliveaux, 312 So.2d 337 (La.
1975); and State v. Weiland, 556 So.2d 175 (La. App. 5th Cir. 1990).
For the reasons set forth herein, we find no merit to the arguments advanced
by defendant, and accordingly, we affirm his conviction and sentence.
AFFIRMED
5 To meet the requirements established in Miller, the Louisiana Legislature enacted La. C.Cr.P. art. 878.1, which sets forth the hearing procedure for determination of parole eligibility for certain juvenile offenders. See State v. Smith, 18-131 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/17/18), 258 So.3d 973, 977, writ denied, 18-1959 (La. 4/15/19), 267 So.3d 1123.
19-KA-116 5 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY MARY E. LEGNON
CHIEF JUDGE INTERIM CLERK OF COURT
FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN BUCHHOLZ STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY OCTOBER 2, 2019 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
19-KA-116 E-NOTIFIED 40TH DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY (DISTRICT JUDGE) HONORABLE BRIDGET A. DINVAUT EMILY POSNER (APPELLANT) JUSTIN B. LACOUR (APPELLEE) (APPELLEE)
MAILED NO ATTORNEYS WERE MAILED