Opinion ID: 2536455
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether whitlock's sentence is disproportionate to the crime and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Text: ¶ 16. Generally, a sentence will not be disturbed on appeal if it is within the limits prescribed by statute. Gibson v. State, 731 So.2d 1087, 1097 (Miss.1998) (quoting Hoops v. State, 681 So.2d 521, 537-38 (Miss.1996)) (citation omitted). ¶ 17. Whitlock argues that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole as an habitual offender for attempted automobile burglary is disproportionate to the crime and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The trial court sentenced Whitlock as an habitual offender pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 99-19-83, which states: Every person convicted in this state of a felony who shall have been convicted twice previously of any felony or federal crime upon charges separately brought and arising out of separate incidents at different times and who shall have been sentenced to and served separate terms of one (1) year or more in any state and/or federal penal institution, whether in this state or elsewhere, and where any one (1) of such felonies shall have been a crime of violence shall be sentenced to life imprisonment, and such sentence shall not be reduced or suspended nor shall such person be eligible for parole or probation. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-83 (Rev.2007). At the sentencing hearing, evidence was presented that Whitlock was previously convicted: (1) in 1978 in the Second Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number 1672, for rape; (2) in 1978 in the Second Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number 1673, for house burglary; (3) in 1978 in the Second Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number 1674, for house burglary; (4) in 1978 in the First Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number 16308, for burglary; (5) in 1978 in the Second Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number 1268, for aggravated assault; and (6) in 1997 in the First Judicial District of Harrison County, Cause Number B2401-97-00394, for robbery. ¶ 18. Whitlock was sentenced to and served terms of one year or more in a state penal institution on each of these felony convictions, and at least one of these felonies was a crime of violence. In fact, Whitlock's prior convictions involved at least three crimes of violence  rape, [4] aggravated assault [5] and robbery. [6] Thus, it is clear that Whitlock met the criteria to be sentenced as an habitual offender to life imprisonment without parole under Section 99-19-83. [7] ¶ 19. Whitlock still maintains that when conducting a proportionality analysis by applying the factors set forth in Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983), the conclusion is that Whitlock's sentence is constitutionally disproportionate to his offense. See also Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 111 S.Ct. 2680, 115 L.Ed.2d 836 (1991). This Court also has stated that `[i]n light of Harmelin, it appears that Solem is to apply only when a threshold comparison of the crime committed to the sentence imposed leads to an inference of gross disproportionality.' Hoops, 681 So.2d at 538 (quoting Smallwood v. Johnson, 73 F.3d 1343, 1347 (5th Cir.1996) (citing Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 1005, 111 S.Ct. 2680)). The Mississippi Court of Appeals recently held that a Solem analysis was not required in affirming a life sentence without parole pursuant to Section 99-19-83 for attempted burglary of an automobile, stating: It is clear that under the facts of this case if Hawkins were found guilty of the charge of attempted burglary of an automobile, he could be sentenced as a habitual offender under section 99-19-83, as he has one previous conviction for robbery and two for burglary. It is well established that [s]entencing is within the complete discretion of the trial court and [is] not subject to appellate review if it is within the limits prescribed by statute. Hoops, 681 So.2d at 537 (citing Reynolds v. State, 585 So.2d 753, 756 (Miss.1991)). We find no merit to this issue, as Hawkins's sentence was within the statutory limits. Thus, no further analysis pursuant to Solem is required. Hawkins v. State, 11 So.3d 123, 129 (Miss. Ct.App.2008). As in Hawkins, Whitlock's sentence unquestionably was within the limits prescribed by statute, and there is no need for further analysis. As such, this issue is without merit.