Opinion ID: 1353770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Parole eligibility instruction

Text: Appellant contends the trial judge erred in denying his request to charge the jury if he were sentenced to life and an aggravating circumstance was found, he would not be eligible for parole for thirty years. Appellant argues he was entitled to this instruction under Simmons v. South Carolina, 512 U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 2187, 129 L.Ed.2d 133 (1994). We disagree. We recently held in State v. Southerland, ___ S.C. ___, 447 S.E.2d 862 (1994), a Simmons charge on parole ineligibility is necessary only if future dangerousness is an issue and state law prevents parole. Simmons is inapplicable here because state law does not prevent appellant's parole. State v. Young, ___ S.C. ___, 459 S.E.2d 84 (1995).