Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Ruffin STOKES
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2019-05-28
Citations: 274 So. 3d 561
Docket Number: 2018-K-1771
Parties: STATE of Louisiana
v.
Ruffin STOKES
Judges: CRICHTON, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 274
Pages: 561–562

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana
v.
Ruffin STOKES
2018-K-1771
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
May 28, 2019
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT, PARISH OF IBERIA
Writ denied.
GUIDRY, CLARK, HUGHES, would grant.
CRICHTON, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons.
Crichton, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons.

Opinion:
I agree with the decision to deny this writ. I write separately to note my view that this brutal armed robbery offense, which included as victims two adults and a three-year-old child, warrants a significant hard labor sentence. However, I agree with the court of appeal's remand for resentencing, though for a different reason than the court of appeal. Here, in my view, the trial judge did not comply with La. C.Cr.P. 894.1. Specifically, he failed correctly to assess applicable mitigating factors, i.e. defendant's youth (20 years old) and status as a first-time offender. In fact, contrary to clearly established jurisprudence, the trial judge deemed his youth an aggravating factor, rather than mitigating factor, emphasizing that defendant would likely commit additional crimes. Cf. State v. Knox , 425 So.2d 707, 708 (La. 1982) (recognizing "youth and first offender status" as common mitigating circumstances); State v. Walker , 414 So.2d 1245 (La. 1982) (same). Accordingly, I agree with the court of appeal that the case must be remanded for resentencing and proper assessment of all applicable 894.1 factors. See , e.g. , State v. Ladd , 14-1611 (La. 3/27/15, 164 So.3d 184 (remanding case for resentencing for trial court's failure to comply with application of 894.1 factors).