Opinion ID: 1993666
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Length of the Sentence

Text: The defendant asserts that the sentence imposed was excessive in all the circumstances and constituted a penalty for his choosing to go to trial. In light of the fact that this court will vacate this conviction on other grounds and remand the case for a new trial, consideration of the validity of the sentence would be inappropriate at this time. However, even if a new trial were not to be ordered, we have frequently stated that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, which are not present in this case, this court will not consider the validity or illegality of a sentence on direct appeal. We have stated on numerous occasions that the appropriate procedure for challenging an improper or illegal sentence is to seek a revision of that sentence initially in the Superior Court pursuant to Rule 35 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. In the event that a defendant is aggrieved by the decision of the Superior Court after a ruling on such a motion, this court will review the determination on appeal within the limited scope allowed by our previous cases. State v. Lee, 502 A.2d 332 (R.I. 1985); State v. Bucci, 430 A.2d 746 (R.I. 1981). Consequently defendant's challenge to the validity and propriety of his sentence cannot be considered at this time.