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837 N.E.2d 153

Nguyen v. State

Indiana Court of Appeals

Decided November 10, 2005

Indiana Court of Appeals · decided 2005-11-10

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 2006

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“'Where a plea agreement provides for a sentence within a certain range or under a certain cap, I do not believe that the defendant necessarily agrees that any sentence within that range or any sentence up to and including the cap is appropriate. Rather, I believe that in most circumstances the defendant is agreeing only that a sentence within the bounds of the plea agreement is legal.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Seals v. State

Relies on Wilkie v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 2005-11-10

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

ROBB, Judge,

¶1concurring in result.

¶2Where a plea agreement provides for a sentence within a certain range or under a certain cap, I do not believe that the defendant necessarily agrees that any sentence within that range or any sentence up to and including the cap is appropriate. See Wilkie, 813 N.E.2d 794 at 803. Rather, I believe that in most cirenmstances the defendant is agreeing only that a sentence within the bounds of the plea agreement is legal. The sentence still must be properly supported by aggravators and mitigators if necessary and is subject to review for inappropriateness. Here, Nguyen and the State agreed that his executed sentence would be no more than fifty-two years. Therefore, Nguyen may dispute the appropriateness of a sentence up to and including the stipulated maximum, which he has done by arguing that the "aggravating circumstances cited by the trial court do not justify an executed sentence in excess of the presumptive sentence." (Br. of Appellant at 16). Nguyen's argument fails, however, because his criminal history is a valid aggravator recognized by the trial court. As this is sufficient to render Nguyen's sentence appropriate, I concur.

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