Opinion ID: 1929211
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: basic term of imprisonment

Text: [¶ 18] In challenging the sentence imposed upon him, Shulikov argues that the court misapplied the principles of sentencing when it determined that a basic term of imprisonment on each Class A crime of 20 years was appropriate. He maintains that the court's reference during the sentencing hearing to the maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years demonstrates that the court did not properly apply the two-tier sentencing structure of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1252(2)(A) (Supp.1997) as interpreted by this Court in State v. Clark, 591 A.2d 462, 464 (Me.1991). [¶ 19] We review the basic term of imprisonment imposed by the trial court for misapplication of principle. State v. Prewara, 687 A.2d 951, 953 (Me.1996). Pursuant to 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1252(2)(A), [6] the term of imprisonment for a Class A crime may not exceed 40 years. There are, however, in effect, two discrete ranges of sentences for Class A crimes: the higher range of 20 to 40 years for the most heinous and violent crimes committed against a person, Clark, 591 A.2d at 464 (quoting State v. Lewis, 590 A.2d 149, 151 (Me.1991)), and the lower range of up to 20 years for all other commissions of a Class A crime. We have held that [c]lose-to maximum sentences for sexual assaults are inappropriate in cases that involve neither a weapon, nor a heightened degree of violence, injury, torture, or depravity. Id. [¶ 20] The record reveals that the parties and the court were in agreement that Shulikov's crimes, when compared against all the possible means of committing gross sexual assault, did not warrant a sentence in the expanded sentencing range. At the sentencing hearing the prosecutor stated: We recommend on counts one through ten, the Class A offenses of gross sexual assault, twenty years to the Department of Corrections. Likewise, Shulikov's counsel conceded that the original twenty year limit as a maximum period is applicable to Mr. Shulikov. The court concluded that [t]he ten convictions of gross sexual assault on the defendant's daughter . . . did not involve the heightened degree of heinousness which would warrant the imposition of a sentence exceeding twenty years . . . . The crimes committed, however, are among the most serious and for that reason, the Court determines that a basic term of imprisonment on each Class A crime of twenty years is appropriate. [¶ 21] The record, as detailed above, does not support Shulikov's contention that the court erroneously believed it was sentencing Shulikov in the mid-range of the available sentence. The court was justified in determining a basic term of imprisonment for the ten counts of gross sexual assault at the top of the permissible range.