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Legal news related to Sentencing

84 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Montana Supreme Court

Montana Supreme Court Affirms 40-Year Prison Sentence in Stabbing Case

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed a 40-year prison sentence for Francisco Padilla-Canales, who was convicted of stabbing his estranged wife's romantic partner after breaking into a home in July 2022. The court rejected his claim that his guilty plea was involuntary due to inadequate advisement.

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed 40-year prison sentence for Francisco Padilla-Canales in domestic violence stabbing case
•Padilla-Canales broke into home and stabbed his estranged wife's romantic partner with pocketknife in July 2022
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State Court
•4 min read
Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release in Habeas Corpus Case

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an extraordinary order on December 24, 2025, directing the immediate release of Thomas Golden Allen from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, declaring his imprisonment illegal. The en banc decision represents a rare habeas corpus victory involving credit for time served calculations.

•Oregon Supreme Court ordered immediate discharge from 'illegal imprisonment' in rare habeas corpus victory
•Case involved Thomas Golden Allen, resentenced in 2019 for sex crimes including first-degree rape
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State Court
•4 min read
Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentences in Child Sex Crime Case

The Idaho Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and life sentences of Todd Marshall Frandsen, who was found guilty in 2023 of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen. The state's highest court rejected Frandsen's appeal challenging four alleged trial court errors.

•Todd Marshall Frandsen received two concurrent life sentences with 20-year fixed terms for lewd conduct with a minor
•The Idaho Supreme Court rejected four challenges including jury selection, evidence admission, and expert witness testimony issues
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State Court
•4 min read
Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Lifetime Electronic Monitoring in Sex Crime Case

The Michigan Supreme Court decided People v Kardasz, a case involving Robert J. Kardasz who was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 25-40 years in prison with lifetime electronic monitoring. The case addresses significant issues related to sentencing and monitoring provisions under Michigan's criminal sexual conduct statutes.

•Robert J. Kardasz was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Macomb Circuit Court and sentenced to 25-40 years in prison
•The case was remanded for resentencing after the Court of Appeals found the original 30-year sentence was not properly justified
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State Court
•4 min read
Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Penalty in 2005 Burial Murders

The Florida Supreme Court issued a corrected opinion in the case of Michael James Jackson, who was convicted of robbing, kidnapping, and murdering an elderly couple by burying them alive in 2005. Jackson's death sentences were vacated in 2017 but the case has continued through appeals under changing Florida capital punishment laws.

•Jackson and three codefendants murdered James and Carol Sumner by burying them alive in 2005
•Original death sentences vacated in 2017 due to Hurst v. State requiring unanimous jury recommendations
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State Court
•4 min read
Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Rape Conviction in Waltrip Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree rape conviction of Randall Waltrip on December 18, 2025, following his Alford plea in Hancock Circuit Court. Waltrip was sentenced to 20 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement that dismissed multiple other charges.

•Randall Waltrip's first-degree rape conviction was affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court on December 18, 2025
•Waltrip entered an Alford plea, allowing him to plead guilty while maintaining innocence, and received a 20-year prison sentence
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Rhode Island

RI Supreme Court Denies New Trial in Tavares Sexual Assault Case

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court's denial of a new trial motion filed by Victor Tavares, who was convicted on multiple sexual assault charges. The court rejected Tavares's appeal, which centered on alleged discovery violations by the prosecution.

•Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed denial of new trial motion for Victor Tavares, convicted of sexual assault
•Tavares argued prosecution violated discovery rules by listing 30 witnesses but calling only seven at trial
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State Court
•4 min read
Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Rules on Criminal Continuance Standards

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a decision in State v. Dawn on November 14, 2025, clarifying the standards for granting continuances in criminal cases and defining abuse of discretion parameters for trial courts.

•Court reaffirmed that continuance decisions in criminal cases rest within trial court discretion and require abuse of discretion for reversal
•Supreme Court defined abuse of discretion as decisions based on untenable or unreasonable grounds clearly against justice and evidence
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State Court
•4 min read
Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Reverses Appeals Ruling on Plea Deal Sentencing

The Utah Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision that would have required new sentencing for Franklin James, who received prison time despite a plea agreement recommending probation. The high court rejected adopting federal precedent that automatically grants relief when defendants aren't invited to speak before sentencing.

•Utah Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals decision that would have granted new sentencing for Franklin James
•Court rejected adopting federal precedent automatically granting relief when defendants aren't invited to speak before sentencing
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Domestic Violence Convictions, Orders Resentencing

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed Heather M. Hodgson's convictions for domestic violence with dangerous weapons and child endangerment but vacated her sentence for failing to meet mandatory minimum requirements.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed domestic violence convictions involving dangerous weapons and child endangerment
•Court vacated sentence for failing to impose mandatory one-year minimum for dangerous weapon domestic violence offense
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