Opinion ID: 770336
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Age and Ill Health

Text: 17 Peterson argues that the prosecutor breached the plea agreement when he stated that (1) Peterson had cited no case law to support the argument that age and health concerns would warrant a downward departure and (2) many defendants have age and health concerns. We disagree. Even if the prosecutor's comments constituted legal argument, the plea agreement permitted him to make those comments if he believed that Peterson's argument was not made in good faith. We construe the prosecutor's comments to reflect such a belief. 18 Nothing in the record indicates that Peterson's age and health were of unusual concern. Indeed, the PSR notes that Peterson is 61, suffers from diabetes and hypertension, and has been treated for depression and anxiety. The PSR then states that Peterson's physical and mental condition are not extraordinary to the extent that a downward departure is justified. Based on the record before us, we conclude that Peterson did not make his age and ill health argument in good faith. We therefore find that the prosecutor did not breach the plea agreement when he opposed a downward departure on those grounds.