Opinion ID: 1152837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: appellate review of exceptional sentences

Text: When the sentencing court exercises its discretion within the structured confines of the SRA, review of its sentences is limited. RCW 9.94A.210(1) (a properly imposed standard range sentence may not be reviewed); RCW 9.94A.210(4) (a properly imposed exceptional sentence will be upheld so long as reason therefor is valid and not clearly excessive or lenient). See also State v. Ritchie, 126 Wash.2d 388, 393, 894 P.2d 1308 (1995); State v. Branch, 129 Wash.2d 635, 919 P.2d 1228 (1996). However, when the sentencing court acts outside the structure set by the SRA, the appellate court may review any such departure. State v. Mail, 121 Wash.2d 707, 711-12, 854 P.2d 1042 (1993) (defendant may appeal a sentence by showing the sentencing court had a duty to follow some specific procedure required by the SRA, and that the court failed to do so); Boerner, supra at 6-34 (Appellate review exists to correct legal errors in the imposition of sentences just as it does to review claimed errors in all other areas of the law.). See State v. Roberts, 117 Wash.2d 576, 587, 817 P.2d 855 (1991) (appellate review of a standard range sentence permitted despite RCW 9.94A.210(1) because the sentencing court failed to properly calculate the offender score, as required by the SRA, before imposing its sentence); State v. Roche, 75 Wash. App. 500, 513, 878 P.2d 497 (1994) (It is axiomatic that a sentencing court acts without statutory authority when it imposes a sentence based on a miscalculated offender score.); Collicott II, 118 Wash.2d 649, 827 P.2d 263. Because the sentencing court must first correctly calculate the standard range before imposing an exceptional sentence, failure to do so is legal error subject to review. [8] Accord State v. Brown, 60 Wash.App. 60, 802 P.2d 803 (1990), review denied, 116 Wash.2d 1025, 812 P.2d 103 (1991). This review is de novo. See State v. McCraw, 127 Wash.2d 281, 289, 898 P.2d 838 (1995) (The appropriate standard of review of the sentencing court's calculation of an offender score is de novo.).