Opinion ID: 477872
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sentences in other jurisdictions.

Text: 17 As to the third Solem prong, McLester asserts that his sentence is disproportionate to sentences in other jurisdictions. We disagree. Florida law prescribes life imprisonment for a felony of the first degree under its Habitual Felony Offenders Statute. Section 775.084(1)(a) and (4)(a) Fla.Stat.Ann. (1976). Moreover, death or imprisonment are possible sentences provided for by Georgia statutory law for a similar crime in the first degree. Section 16-8-41(b), Ga.Code.Ann. (1984); (Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 53 L.Ed.2d 982 (1977), prohibits the imposition of the death sentence in such instances). McLester's sentence clearly does not support a finding of disproportionality when compared with possible sentences in other jurisdictions. 18 McLester also contends that the district court abused its discretion in denying his amended discovery request. The discovery requested the names, prior criminal records, and the sentences of all persons convicted of the highest degree of murder, sodomy, kidnapping, and rape since July 30,1979, who were sentenced to less than life without parole. McLester claims that the requested data would show that a large number of murderers, sodomists, rapists, and kidnappers had received lesser sentences than he in spite of the fact that they are second, third, and fourth time habitual offenders. The record supports the district court's finding that records in the possession of the state of Alabama Department of Corrections were made available to McLester, and that more extensive discovery requiring manual examination of thousands of prisoner files would be too burdensome. 19 No contention was made attacking the constitutionality of the sentence as applied to McLester based on the state's stipulation and evidence in the record showing that Alabama has lacked uniformity in application of this supposedly mandatory recidivist statute. Other theories may afford McLester relief, but those interesting theories are not before us. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is affirmed. 20 AFFIRMED.