Opinion ID: 2244853
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Findings and Sentencing Decision

Text: At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that this case was probably one of the most egregious cases that has come before the court in sixteen and a half years. The court went on to consider any aggravating or possible mitigating circumstances. The court found the following aggravating circumstances: (1) that defendant has a history of criminal activity dating back to 1978; (2) that defendant was on parole at the time of the commission of the crimes; (3) that there is a severe risk that defendant will commit another crime, particularly a violent crime against another human being; (4) that the attempted murder was violent, with the victim having been stabbed sixteen times and abandoned as dead; (5) that defendant alternated between various forms of forced sexual activities in a brutal manner; (6) that defendant subjected the victim to psychological and physical pain over a period of time not less than one hour; and (7) that defendant is in need of correctional or rehabilitative treatment that can best be provided by commitment to a penal facility. The court further found that, in light of its other findings, imposition of a reduced sentence or the suspension of the sentence and imposition of any probation or reduction of the sentence, would depreciate the seriousness of the crime. The court stated that it had considered defendant's prior criminal record, as well as the character and condition of defendant, and the fact that he admitted that even while incarcerated he used illegal drugs. The court also stated that it had considered defendant's oral testimony and the possible mitigating circumstances, but found only one mitigating circumstance, that is, defendant's psychological problems. As to these problems, the court stated: The Court has reviewed the possible mitigating circumstances in this particular case, and although the Court does find that there is some evidence presented to the Court that the defendant has some psychological problems, the Court does not find that those psychological problems are to such an extent as to make it impossible for the defendant to control his actions and behavior in society. The Court further finds that any aggravating circumstances, as indicated by the Court, far outweigh, that one mitigating circumstance. (R. at 662-63.) The court's written sentencing order provides no further discussion of the aggravating circumstances or of the one mitigating circumstance. The trial court sentenced defendant to the forty-five (45) year maximum on each of the four felony counts, and, in so doing, enhanced the twenty-five (25) year presumptive sentence applicable on the date defendant committed the crimes, by the maximum amount of twenty (20) years. [2] The court specified that the two counts for criminal deviate conduct were to run concurrently with one another, but consecutively to the other two counts. The court also sentenced defendant to an additional thirty (30) years because of his status as a habitual offender. Thus, having found that defendant was guilty but mentally ill and that the aggravating circumstances far outweigh the one mitigating circumstance, the court gave little or no weight to defendant's mental illness as a mitigating circumstance and imposed a sentence totaling one hundred sixty-five (165) years.