Court Opinion

ID: 9690202
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:56:38.079051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:54.068398
License: Public Domain

Murphy, P.J.
(dissenting). Defendant’s sentence exceeded the sentencing guidelines. Under the newly announced "principle of proportionality,” our Supreme Court has instructed us that departures from the guidelines, while permissible, are suspect and are subject to careful scrutiny on appeal. People v Milbourn, 435 Mich 630, 659-660; 461 NW2d 1 (1990). In fact, Milbourn tells us that even where some departure from the guideline range is appropriate, the extent of the departure may be violative of the principle of proportionality. Id., 660.
Defendant clearly raised and preserved the issue of sentence length in this appeal, which was pending when Milbourn was decided. Therefore, Milbourn applies to this appeal. Id., 669-670. The trial judge, in exercising his sentencing discretion in this case, did not have the benefit of the new standards announced in Milbourn, and, accordingly, I would remand this matter to the trial court for resentencing within the dictates of the Milbourn opinion.