Opinion ID: 1105721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: whether the trial judge's sentence of life without parole violates the eighth and fourteenth amendments to the united states constitution and article 3 section 28 to the mississippi state constitution?

Text: ¶ 29. Wall claims his life without parole sentence is disproportionate under the rationale of Clowers v. State, 522 So.2d 762 (Miss.1988), and Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983). Sentencing is within the complete discretion of the trial court and not subject to appellate review if it is within the limits prescribed by statute. Hoops v. State, 681 So.2d 521, 537 (Miss.1996). `Further, the general rule in this state is that a sentence cannot be disturbed on appeal so long as it does not exceed the maximum term allowed by statute.' Hoops, 681 So.2d at 538 (quoting Fleming v. State, 604 So.2d 280, 302 (Miss. 1992)). However, this Court will use the three-pronged analysis as set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Solem v. Helm , but 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. The three factors set out in Solem for courts to consider when conducting a proportionality analysis if the threshold comparison is met are: (a) gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty; (b) sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction; and (c) sentences imposed for the commission of the same crime in different jurisdictions. Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. at 292, 103 S.Ct. 3001. Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 100 S.Ct. 1133, 63 L.Ed.2d 382 (1980), serves as a guide in the determination of this threshold comparison. The defendant in Rummel was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole under a recidivist statute for a third non-violent felony conviction. Although the total loss from the three crimes was less than $250.00, the United States Supreme Court found Rummel's sentence to be proportionate and not violative of the Eighth Amendment. ¶ 30. In light of Rummel, it cannot be argued that Wall's sentence was grossly disproportionate to his crime. In the present case, the record indicates that Wall was convicted of robbery in August of 1991 or 1992; of armed robbery in August of 1992; and most recently of possession of a controlled substance on August 6, 1996. Moreover, this Court has held that armed robbery is a crime of violence per se. Ashley v. State, 538 So.2d 1181, 1185 (Miss.1989) (citing King v. State, 527 So.2d 641, 646 (Miss.1988)). Thus, Wall would be classified as a habitual offender according § 99-19-83 and could receive a life sentence without parole. For crimes classifiable as felonies in which significant terms of imprisonment in the state penitentiary can be given, the length of the sentence actually imposed is purely a matter of legislative prerogative. Hopson v. State, 625 So.2d 395, 404 (Miss.1993). Therefore, as long as the sentence is within the limits of the statute, the imposition of such sentence is within the sound discretion of the trial court and this Court will not reverse it. On balance, these facts do not lend themselves to a finding that Wall received a sentence grossly disproportionate to his crimes. Therefore, an extended proportionality review under Solem, is not warranted. There is no merit to this assignment of error.