Court Opinion

ID: 9543576
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:46:42.89704+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:10:37.728942
License: Public Domain

GIVAN, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority in this case in the remanding of the cause to the trial court with instructions to re-sen-tenee the defendant to a term of ten (10) years imprisonment.
In the majority opinion on Page 6, the trial court is quoted as to the reasons for giving an enhanced sentence for aggravating circumstances. The majority takes the position that the reasons stated are insufficient under the statute and further that the judge actually sentenced the defendant for murder rather than for manslaughter as found by the jury. I do not agree with either of these propositions.
The trial judge specifically stated that the evidence in this cause shows that the defendant is in need of correctional or rehabilitative treatment that can best be provided if he is committed to a penal institution. This is one of the precise reasons for authorizing an enhanced sentence under I.C. 35-50-lA-7(c)(3) [Burns 1979 Repl.]
The judge also stated that to impose a reduced sentence or a suspended sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the crime. This is in strict compliance with (c)(4) of the statute. Unlike many of the cases we have had to remand to the trial court for correction for deficiencies in this type of sentence, in my view, the trial judge specifically addressed himself to the facts in the case and to this particular defendant in rendering his sentence.
As to the position the majority takes that the trial judge sentenced appellant for murder rather than for voluntary manslaughter, a reading of the judge’s statement does not so indicate. The judge does observe that in his opinion the jury verdict was too light and that a verdict of guilty of murder would have been in order. However, he does not attempt to find the defendant guilty of murder, in fact, he specifically says, “The jury, as it had a right to do, returned a verdict of voluntary manslaughter .... ” I view this language of the trial judge merely as a statement as to the seriousness of the crime thus explaining his imposition of the sentence under (c)(4) of the above statute.
I believe the trial judge complied with the statute, thoroughly justified the imposition of the enhanced sentence for manslaughter provided by the statute and that the decision of the trial court should stand.
I would affirm the trial court in all things.
PIVARNIK, J., concurs.