Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Otis James LEWIS
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1977-03-09
Citations: 343 So. 2d 732
Docket Number: No. 58774
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Otis James LEWIS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 343
Pages: 732–732

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Otis James LEWIS.
No. 58774.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
March 9, 1977.
Sam Nelken, Natchitoches, for defendant-appellant.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Ronald C. Martin, Dist. Atty., Eric R. Harrington, Asst. Dist. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
While there is no merit to defendant's assignment of error, the sentence to twenty-five years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or pardon is improper. The gubernatorial power to pardon may not be precluded by the terms of a sentence. La.Const. Art. 4, § 5(E) (1974); State v. Williams, 338 So.2d 672 (La.1976); State v. Spotville, 308 So.2d 763 (La.1975).
Defendant's conviction is affirmed, but the sentence is vacated and set aside. The case is remanded to the trial court for re-sentencing in accordance with the foregoing.