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State v. Newman

Supreme Court of Nebraska
Oct 5, 1977
257 N.W.2d 825 (Neb. 1977)

Opinion

No. 41318.

Filed October 5, 1977.

Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County: WILLIAM C. HASTINGS, Judge. Affirmed.

T. Clement Gaughan and Richard L. Goos, for appellant.

Paul L. Douglas, Attorney General, and Ralph H. Gillan, for appellee.

Heard before WHITE, C. J., SPENCER, BOSLAUGH, McCOWN, CLINTON, BRODKEY, and WHITE, JJ.


The defendant was charged, under the provisions of section 28-408.03, R.R.S. 1943, with first degree sexual assault and entered a plea of no contest. The trial judge sentenced him to a term of not less than 5 nor more than 9 years in the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex. On this appeal he asserts that the sentence is excessive and asks that the above minimum be substantially reduced. We affirm.

The defendant is 17 years of age. The crime in question was accomplished by breaking and entering during the nighttime the home in which the victim, a married woman with an infant child, was sleeping. The woman is a deaf mute. The woman's husband was absent from the home at the time of the attack. The victim offered minimal resistance because of fear and fear for her child. The act of rape was accomplished twice by the defendant.

The defendant has a previous history of sexual assaults. As a juvenile of the age of 15 he committed his first rape and was treated at the Lincoln Regional Center for about 1 year. An earlier attempted rape had not been prosecuted and had been dealt with by a lecture. He admits three other assaults with intent to rape which failed.

The trial court analyzed the statutory conditions tending to indicate a sentence of probation, concluded that they did not apply in this case, and imposed the sentence here questioned. The record discloses no mental or other abnormalities which explain the defendant's conduct. The trial court concluded he was a danger to females and that incarceration was required.

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the sentence it did and in the absence of such abuse the sentence is affirmed. See state v. Martinez, 198 Neb. 347, 252 N.W.2d 630.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

State v. Newman

Supreme Court of Nebraska
Oct 5, 1977
257 N.W.2d 825 (Neb. 1977)
Case details for

State v. Newman

Case Details

Full title:STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE, v. JOHN NEWMAN, APPELLANT

Court:Supreme Court of Nebraska

Date published: Oct 5, 1977

Citations

257 N.W.2d 825 (Neb. 1977)
257 N.W.2d 825

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