Opinion ID: 2188938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: the excessive sentence

Text: The defendant asserts that the sentence imposed was excessive under all the circumstances of this case. In light of the fact that this court will vacate this conviction on other grounds and remand the case for a new trial, consideration of the validity of the sentence would be inappropriate at this time. However, we should point out, as we have done in State v. Trepanier, supra , that this court will not, save under unusual circumstances not present in this case, consider the validity or illegality of a sentence on direct appeal. We have stated on numerous occasions that the appropriate procedure for challenging an improper or illegal sentence is to seek a revision of that sentence initially in the Superior Court pursuant to Rule 35 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. In the event that a defendant is aggrieved by the decision of the Superior Court after a ruling on such motion, this court will review the determination on appeal within the limited scope allowed by our previous cases. State v. Lee, 502 A.2d 332 (R.I. 1985); State v. Bucci, 430 A.2d 746 (R.I. 1981). Consequently the defendant's challenge to the severity of his sentence cannot be considered at this time. For the reasons stated, the defendant's appeal is sustained in part and denied in part. The papers in the case may be remanded to the Superior Court for a new trial.