Opinion
No. 93-K-2128.
March 11, 1994.
In re Bennett, Henry L., Jr.; — Defendant(s); applying for writ of certiorari and/or review; to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, No. KA92 1715; Parish of East Baton Rouge, 19th Judicial District Court, Div. "G", No. 89-346.
Denied.
CALOGERO, C.J., concurs. Under State v. Roger Smith, ___ So.2d ___ (La. 1993), a trial judge is at liberty to impose a sentence in excess of the Sentencing Guidelines provided that he articulate aggravating circumstances warranting the upward deviation. In this case, the charge against the defendant was reduced to manslaughter from the more serious offense of second degree murder. Under the circumstances, the reduction in charge may be considered an omnibus aggravating factor which distinguishes this case from the typical manslaughter case. La.Admin. Code tit. 22 Sec. 209 B(19) (West 1993); Joseph, Boudreaux, Lindsay Menezes, Louisiana Sentencing Guidelines Manual p. 11, n. 51 (1993 ed.). Moreover, the Court just today granted a rehearing in Smith.
DENNIS, J., not on panel.