Furthermore, on numerous occasions, the appellate courts of this state have approved sentences of 20 years or more for young first time felony offenders. See, State v. Curry, supra and authorities therein; State v. Smith, 513 So.2d 436 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1987) and authorities therein; State v. Chaisson, 507 So.2d 248 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1987); State v. Johnson, 486 So.2d 853 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1986); State v. Toomer, 461 So.2d 387 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1984) and authorities therein. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its wide sentencing discretion.
In State v. Thomas, 468 So.2d 592 (La.App. 2d Cir.), writ denied, 474 So.2d 1303 (La. 1985), this court held that the sentence of 25 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for armed robbery was not excessive, despite that defendant was 21 years old and it was his first felony offense. Also, in State v. Smith, 513 So.2d 436 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1987), this court found the sentence of 20 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for the crime of armed robbery was not excessive where defendant was a 23-year old first felony offender who, with a companion, committed armed robbery upon an elderly shopkeeper. For the above reasons, this court finds that the sentence was not excessive.
His conviction and sentence were affirmed by this court. State v. Smith, 513 So.2d 436 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1987). The defendant was charged with armed robbery, tried by jury and found guilty as charged.