Opinion ID: 2210518
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Imposition of Consecutive Life Sentences

Text: Appellant contends the trial court abused its discretion in imposing three of his four life sentences consecutively. Whether to impose concurrent or consecutive multiple life sentences for first degree murder falls within the discretion of the trial court. Minn.Stat. § 609.15 (1990); see also Bangert v. State, 282 N.W.2d 540, 547 (Minn.1979) (construing Minn.Stat. § 609.15 to permit imposition of consecutive life sentences). When reviewing imposition of consecutive life sentences, this court considers whether consecutive sentences are commensurate with culpability and not an exaggeration of defendant's criminality. Bangert, 282 N.W.2d at 547. In Bangert, we affirmed consecutive life sentences where the defendant shot and killed two victims while they slept. Id. at 543. Similarly, in State v. Olson, 291 N.W.2d 203 (Minn.1980), this court concluded that consecutive life sentences were indeed appropriate where a defendant with premeditation methodically burned three people to death. Id. at 208; see also State v. Marquardt, 294 N.W.2d 849, 851 (Minn.1980) (consecutive sentences appropriate where seven victims were shot). Like the defendants in both Bangert and Olson, appellant was convicted for the premeditated murder of multiple victims. After hearing the testimony offered and observing the witnesses who testified, the trial court concluded that three consecutive and one concurrent life terms were appropriate. We find no ground on which to conclude that three consecutive life sentences exaggerate either appellant's culpability or his criminality. We therefore hold that the trial court did not abuse its sentencing discretion and affirm the sentences it imposed. [12]