Opinion ID: 1207978
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Disparity of Co-defendant's Sentence

Text: Although sentences of co-defendants may be considered in mitigation, Cook, 170 Ariz. at 65, 821 P.2d at 756; State v. Watson, 129 Ariz. 60, 64, 628 P.2d 943, 947 (1981), where the difference in sentences is a result of appropriate plea bargaining, it may not be considered in mitigation. State v. Gillies, 142 Ariz. 564, 571, 691 P.2d 655, 662 (1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1059, 105 S.Ct. 1775, 84 L.Ed.2d 834 (1985). [I]t is not mere disparity between the two sentences that is significant, but, rather, unexplained disparity. State v. Schurz, 176 Ariz. 46, 57, 859 P.2d 156, 167, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 640, 126 L.Ed.2d 598 (1993). Where the first degree murder is found especially cruel, heinous, or depraved, even unexplained disparity has little significance. Id. The sentence negotiated by co-defendant was the result of a disparity of evidence at the time of co-defendant's trial, causing the state to enter into a plea agreement. In addition, it must be remembered that co-defendant was twenty years old. But see Walton, 159 Ariz. at 589, 769 P.2d at 1035 (affirming death sentence of twenty year old defendant). Defendant was thirty-eight.