Title: Buckner v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
PERRY BUCKNER,
§
§
Defendant Below,
§
Appellant,
§ No. 19, 2001
§ 
v.
§ Court Below: Superior Court
§ of the State of Delaware in and
STATE OF DELAWARE,
§ for New Castle County
§ Cr.A. ID No. 9910020658
Plaintiff Below,
§
Appellee.
§
Submitted: September 11, 2001
Decided:
September 20, 2001
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, WALSH, and HOLLAND, Justices.
O R D E R
This 20th day of September 2001, upon consideration of the briefs of the
parties, it appears that:
(1)
This is an appeal from the imposition of sentence in the Superior Court.
The appellant, Perry Buckner (“Buckner”), contends that the Superior Court abused
its discretion in sentencing him to twenty years imprisonment at Level V, the
statutory maximum, following his guilty plea to a charge of third degree rape
involving his minor daughter.  Buckner argues that the sentence imposed by the
Superior Court exceeded the State’s recommendation and SENTAC guidelines.
2
(2)
Sentencing guidelines are voluntary and not binding on the sentencing
judge.  Mayes v. State, Del. Supr., 604 A.2d 839, 845 (1992).  Nor may they be the
basis for appeal.  Wilson v. State, Del. Supr., No. 447, 1996, Walsh, J. (Feb. 21,
1997) (ORDER).  A sentence within the statutory limits will not be disturbed on
appeal in the absence of a showing of vindictiveness, reliance on impermissible
factors or a closed mind.  Cheeks v. State, Del. Supr., No. 6, 2000, Veasey, C.J.,
2000 WL 1508578 (Sept. 25, 2000) (ORDER).  Given the nature of the
circumstances of the offense to which the defendant pled guilty and his prior criminal
record (Buckner was on federal probation at the time of commission of the offense)
we find no basis for concluding that the sentencing judge abused his discretion in
imposing the maximum sentence.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court be, and the same hereby is,
AFFIRMED.
BY THE COURT:
   s/Joseph T. Walsh
                 Justice