Case Name: PEOPLE v. LUCAS
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1990-03-05
Citations: 182 Mich. App. 533
Docket Number: Docket No. 116603
Parties: PEOPLE v LUCAS
Judges: Before: Cynar, P.J., and Marilyn Kelly and T. G. Kavanagh, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 182
Pages: 533–537

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v LUCAS
Docket No. 116603.
Submitted November 16, 1989, at Grand Rapids.
Decided March 5, 1990.
Mitchell Ray Lucas pled guilty of bank robbery, Kent Circuit Court, Roman J. Snow, J. The court departed from a sentencing guidelines recommended minimum sentence range of twenty-four to seventy-two months in sentencing defendant to a term of imprisonment of fifteen to forty years. Defendant appealed.
The Court of Appeals held:
In light of the reasons stated by the trial court for its departure from the sentencing guidelines, the sentence imposed does not constitute an abuse of discretion such that it shocks the conscience of the Court of Appeals.
Affirmed.
T. G. Kavanagh, J., dissented and would hold that, because the factors relied upon by the trial court in departing from the guidelines do not justify the sentence imposed and the sentence far exceeds that which is needed to discipline defendant or protect society, the sentence is excessive and its severity shocks the judicial conscience.
1. Criminal Law — Sentencing Guidelines.
Use of the sentencing guidelines when imposing a sentence for an offense included in the guidelines is mandatory, but imposing a sentence based on the recommended ranges of the guidelines is not.
2. Criminal Law — Sentencing Guidelines — Appeal.
Departures from the sentencing guidelines are to be expected and, where a sentencing court articulates permissible reasons in support of its decision to depart from the guidelines, a reviewing court should not afford relief unless the sentence imposed shocks the conscience of the reviewing court.
References
Am Jur 2d, Criminal Law §§ 595, 598, 599.
See the Index to Annotations under Mitigation or Aggravation of Punishment; Sentence and Punishment.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. Caruso, Solicitor General, William A. Forsyth, Prosecuting Attorney, and Timothy K. McMorrow, Chief Appellate Attorney, for the people.
James R. Rinck, for defendant on appeal.
Before: Cynar, P.J., and Marilyn Kelly and T. G. Kavanagh, JJ.
Former Supreme Court justice, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.

Opinion:
Cynar, P.J.
On September 27, 1988, defendant pled guilty to bank robbery, MCL 750.531; MSA 28.799. Application of the sentencing guidelines to the circumstances of the instant case resulted in a recommended minimum sentence range of from twenty-four to seventy-two months. The trial court exceeded the recommended range and imposed a sentence of fifteen to forty years of imprisonment.
In this appeal as of right, defendant asserts that resentencing is required because the sentencing court's departure from the guidelines constitutes an abuse of discretion such that it should shock the conscience of this Court. We disagree.
By administrative order, our Supreme Court mandated use of the sentencing guidelines by trial judges when imposing sentences on or after March 1, 1984. Administrative Order No. 1984-1, 418 Mich lxxx; Administrative Order No. 1985-2, 420 Mich lxii; Administrative Order No. 1988-4, 430 Mich ci. Although a sentencing judge is not compelled to adhere to the minimum sentence suggested by the guidelines, he must complete the guidelines calculations and consider the resultant suggested minimum sentence. People v Ridley, 142 Mich 129, 133-134; 369 NW2d 274 (1985). Departures from the guidelines are expected. People v Winchell, 171 Mich App 662, 667; 430 NW2d 812 (1988). As long as a sentencing judge articulates permissible reasons to support departure, we do not afford relief unless our appellate conscience is shocked. People v Coles, 417 Mich 523, 550; 339 NW2d 440 (1983); Winchell, supra.
Judge Snow stated in pertinent part, relative to the issue herein, as follows:
Now, inasmuch as I do not intend to abide by the scoring in either of the guidelines, I do not think it makes any difference which of the guidelines will be used, but I will use the guidelines in effect after October 1st.
The defendant committed seven bank robberies over a period of six months. Each of these offenses involved multiple victims. Defendant used a gun in each of the robberies.
After the first robbery, the defendant forced all of the employees and customers to disrobe, and when they did not want to undress completely, he threatened them with a gun and insisted they remove all their clothing.
Forcing them to disrobe severely traumatized the employees and customers, caused them much fear and resulting psychological harm which has been long-lasting.
Defendant's actions over this six-month period terrorized many of the residents in northern Kent County and the banking community.
In addition to the loss of over $40,000 in cash, there were untold expenses to area banks for beefed-up security, lost production in manpower, and counseling services that had to be given to several victims who suffered severe mental anguish. Local police also deployed additional manpower exclusively to this case for a period of six months. I think it is safe to estimate that these crimes cost our community in the neighborhood of a quarter of a million dollars.
It is my opinion that the sentencing guidelines do not sufficiently reflect the serious nature of this crime, and the impact defendant's conduct has had upon the community, how much psychological harm and how much fear his actions have caused. I am therefore sentencing outside the range of the sentencing guidelines.
It is therefore the sentence of this Court that you be taken from here to Jackson, Michigan, there delivered to the Department of Corrections to serve a term at an institution of their choice of not less than 15 nor more than 40 years.
The sentence imposed was an appropriate response to the crime and the criminal. Accordingly, we hold the sentence does not constitute an abuse of discretion which shocks the conscience of this Court.
Affirmed.
Marilyn Kelly, J., concurred.