State v. Williams

677 So. 2d 692, 1996 WL 350500
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided June 26, 1996·No. 96-37·Published·Cited by 18 cases

Opinion

677 So.2d 692 (1996)

STATE of Louisiana, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Terry WILLIAMS, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 96-37.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

June 26, 1996.

*693 Jimmy Dale Long Jr., Natchitoches, Michael Henry, Dist. Atty., for State of Louisiana.

Bridgett Brown, Alexandria, for Terry J. Williams.

Before SAUNDERS, AMY and GREMILLION, JJ.

GREMILLION, Judge.

On November 2, 1994, an undercover agent purchased five rocks of crack cocaine from defendant, Terry Williams, for $50.00. On February 3, 1995, defendant appeared in open court for arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, schedule II—cocaine, in violation of La.R.S. 40:967. On July 11, 1995, defendant was tried on this charge and found guilty by the jury, in a unanimous verdict. On September 1, 1995, defendant filed a motion for new trial which was denied by the trial court after a hearing on September 15, 1995. After denying defendant's motion, the trial court sentenced defendant to twenty years at hard labor. On September 27, 1995, defendant filed a motion to reconsider the sentence which was denied by the trial court on October 6, 1995. Defendant now seeks review by this court alleging three assignments of error. *694 After reviewing the record, we vacate the defendant's sentence and remand for resentencing.

EXCESSIVE SENTENCE

Defendant asserts that the trial court erred by imposing a twenty year sentence which he claims is excessive and disproportionate to the severity of the crime. He also contends the trial court failed to properly consider the requirements of La.Code Crim.P. art. 894.1, and improperly considered irrelevant factors in imposing the excessive sentence.

Defendant was sentenced on September 15, 1995. The Louisiana Sentencing Guidelines were repealed by Act No. 942, Sec. 3, of the 1995 Legislative Session, effective August 15, 1995. New requirements for sentencing were added in La.Code Crim.P. art. 894.1. Paragraph A basically restates the three listed factors of old Article 894.1(A), requiring the sentencing court to impose a sentence if any of the factors are present. Paragraph B added thirty-three factors which could be considered by the sentencing court in its determination of whether to impose a suspension of sentence or probation. These factors are similar to those listed as aggravating and mitigating circumstances in § 209 of the Louisiana Sentencing Guidelines. Paragraph C requires the sentencing court to "state for the record the considerations taken into account and the factual basis therefor in imposing sentence." Paragraph D requires the sentencing court, after imposition of the sentence, to advise the offender in open court of the following: whether his sentence is subject to diminution for good behavior; whether the sentence was enhanced under any provision of law; the prospective release date of the offender should his sentence be subject to diminution for good behavior; whether the offender is eligible for parole; and the prospective parole eligibility date of the offender should he be eligible for parole. Paragraph E requires the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to furnish the sentencing judge with a report, including the listed information he is required to provide pursuant to Paragraph D, before he sentences the defendant for a felony. Paragraph F states that no sentence shall be declared unlawful or inadequate for the sentencing court's failure to comply with the provision of paragraph D. Thus, as a result of Paragraph F, this court need only review the sentence for constitutional excessiveness.

In his brief, defendant contends that the trial court did not consider any mitigating factors, and there was no evidence at trial or in the presentence investigation report suggesting that he was a major supplier or trafficker of cocaine in the Natchitoches area which would support the "patently excessive" sentence imposed. Defendant, citing La.R.S. 15:432, claims he is entitled to the statutory presumption that the informant's testimony would not have assisted the state's case because the only testimony supporting the notion that defendant ever distributed cocaine came from an unnamed person who was not subject to cross-examination. Defendant further argues the trial court should not have penalized him for charges that were ultimately dismissed or had not yet been fully adjudicated. Further, defendant contends the trial court did not consider his personal history.

In defendant's motion to reconsider sentence, he listed specific grounds for reconsidering his sentence: that he has no history of violence; that the type of sentence imposed is used in the most extreme cases; that defendant only had $50.00 worth of crack cocaine; and that the sentence is excessive. He does not list these grounds on appeal. Ordinarily, defendant's failure to raise the claims in a motion to reconsider sentence would preclude this court from reviewing such matters in accordance with State v. Mims, 619 So.2d 1059 (La.1993), appeal after remand, 626 So.2d 856 (La. App. 2 Cir.1993). However, since defendant raises these claims under excessiveness and the trial court's failure to properly consider the sentencing guidelines pursuant to La. Code Crim.P. art. 894.1, we will address them on appeal.

Article 1, § 20 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, prohibits "cruel, excessive, or unusual punishment." A sentence which falls within the statutory limits may nevertheless be excessive under the circumstances. State v. Sepulvado, 367 So.2d 762 *695 (La.1979); State v. Naquin, 527 So.2d 601 (La.App. 3 Cir.1988). To constitute an excessive sentence this court must find that the penalty is so grossly disproportionate to the severity of the crime as to shock our sense of justice; or that the sentence makes no measurable contribution to acceptable penal goals and, therefore, is nothing more than a purposeless and needless imposition of pain and suffering. State v. Bonanno, 384 So.2d 355 (La.1980); State v. Everett, 530 So.2d 615 (La.App. 3 Cir.1988), writ denied, 536 So.2d 1233 (La.1989). The trial judge is given wide discretion in imposing a sentence, and a sentence imposed within the statutory limits will not be deemed excessive in the absence of manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Howard, 414 So.2d 1210 (La.1982).

The Legislature has provided criteria to aid a sentencing court in determining whether a sentence of imprisonment should be imposed and whether suspension of a sentence or probation is warranted. La. Code Crim.P. art. 894.1; State v. Klause, 525 So.2d 1076 (La.App. 3 Cir.1988). Paragraph C of Article 894.1 requires the sentencing court to state for the record the considerations taken into account and the factual basis used when imposing a sentence. The trial court need not refer to every aggravating and mitigating circumstance in order to comply with the article. If there is an adequate factual basis for the sentence contained in the record, the sentencing court's failure to articulate every circumstance listed in Article 894.1 will not necessitate a remand for resentencing. State v. Cottingin, 476 So.2d 1184 (La.App. 3 Cir.1985), appeal after remand, 496 So.2d 1379 (La.App. 3 Cir.1986); State v. Morgan, 428 So.2d 1215 (La.App. 3 Cir.), writ denied, 433 So.2d 166 (La.1983); See also, State v. Smith, 433 So.2d 688 (La. 1983) and State v. Stein, 611 So.2d 800 (La. App. 3 Cir.1992). The sentencing co

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