State v. Debarge
State v. Debarge
Opinion of the Court
*492Defendant, Jeffery Scot Debarge, was charged by bill of information with three counts of video voyeurism, in violation of La.R.S. 14:283, and one count of possession of pornography involving juveniles, in violation of La.R.S. 14:81.1, to which he tendered a plea of not guilty to all counts. Prior to that time, Defendant's counsel had filed an Application for Appointment of Sanity Commission, which was granted by the trial court. After a December 2016 hearing, Defendant was found competent to stand trial.
On January 13, 2017, as part of a plea agreement, Defendant tendered a plea of guilty to three counts of video voyeurism. According to the factual basis for the charges presented by the State at his guilty plea hearing, Defendant placed a video camera inside the bathroom of the home where he lived with his girlfriend and her nine-year-old daughter, J.I.,
Defendant filed a Motion to Reconsider Sentence wherein he alleged his sentences are excessive under the totality of the circumstances. The trial court denied the motion ex parte. Defendant timely appealed his sentence.
DISCUSSION
Excessiveness
In his sole assignment of error, Defendant alleges the trial court "imposed excessive *493sentences on each count that are not warranted by the offenses or the circumstances of the first offender,[
Louisiana courts have laid out the following guidelines regarding constitutionally excessive sentence review:
Sentences within the statutory sentencing range can be reviewed for constitutional excessiveness. State v. Sepulvado ,367 So.2d 762 (La. 1979). In State v. Barling , 00-1241, 00-1591, p. 12 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1/31/01),779 So.2d 1035 , 1042-43, writ denied , 01-838 (La. 2/1/02),808 So.2d 331 , a panel of this court discussed the review of excessive sentence claims, stating:
La. Const. art. I, § 20 guarantees that, "[n]o law shall subject any person to cruel or unusual punishment." To constitute an excessive sentence, the reviewing court
must find the penalty so grossly disproportionate to the severity of the crime as to shock our sense of justice or that the sentence makes no measurable contribution to acceptable penal goals and is, therefore, nothing more than a needless imposition of pain and suffering. State v. Campbell ,404 So.2d 1205 (La. 1981). The trial court has wide discretion in the imposition of sentence within the statutory limits and such sentence shall not be set aside as excessive absent a manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Etienne ,99-192 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/13/99) ,746 So.2d 124 , writ denied , 00-0165 (La.6/30/00) [765 So.2d 1067 ] ;765 So.2d 1067 . The relevant question is whether the trial court abused its broad sentencing discretion, not whether another sentence might have been more appropriate. State v. Cook , 95-2784 (La. 5/31/96),674 So.2d 957 , cert. denied ,519 U.S. 1043 ,117 S.Ct. 615 ,136 L.Ed.2d 539 (1996).
Further, in reviewing the defendant's sentences, the appellate court should consider the nature of the crime, the nature and background of the offender, and the sentences imposed for similar crimes. State v. Lisotta ,98-648 (La.App. 5 Cir. 12/16/98) ,726 So.2d 57 (citing State v. Telsee ,425 So.2d 1251 (La. 1983) ), writ denied , 99-433 (La. 6/25/99),745 So.2d 1183 . In State v. Smith , 02-719, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/12/03),846 So.2d 786 , 789, writ denied , 03-562 (La. 5/30/03),845 So.2d 1061 , a panel of this court observed that:
While a comparison of sentences imposed for similar crimes may provide some insight, "it is well settled that sentences must be individualized to the particular offender and to the particular offense committed." State v. Batiste ,594 So.2d 1 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1991). Additionally, it is within the purview of the trial court to particularize the sentence because the trial judge "remains in the best position to assess the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented by each case." State v. Cook , 95-2784 (La. 5/31/96),674 So.2d 957 , 958 [, cert. denied , 96-6329,519 U.S. 1043 ,117 S.Ct. 615 ,136 L.Ed.2d 539 (1996) ].
State v. Soileau , 13-770, 13-771, pp. 4-5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/12/14),
Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 881.1(E) provides that:
*494Failure to make or file a motion to reconsider sentence or to include a specific ground upon which a motion to reconsider sentence may be based, including a claim of excessiveness, shall preclude the state or the defendant from raising an objection to the sentence or from urging any ground not raised in the motion on appeal or review.
In the motion to reconsider that he filed in the trial court, Defendant argued that his sentence "is excessive under the totality of the circumstances of this case in that:"
(1) The defendant herein suffers from Cavernoma ;[4 ]
(2) The defendant herein suffers from headaches, dizziness, nausea, emesis, and blurry vision;
(3) The defendant herein had a stealth guided R crani for R cavernous angioma on February 4, 2016.[5 ]
(4) The sentences, specifically the seven (7) year sentence is without benefit of parole, probation or suspension.
The trial court denied Defendant's motion. No written reasons were given.
Defendant now argues on appeal that because the bill of information did not specify the subparagraphs of the video voyeurism statute under which he was being charged, the trial court erred in imposing sentences that exceeded the two-years imprisonment maximum found in the generalized sentencing provision of the statute.
The State submits the issue of whether Defendant's sentence was improperly enhanced is not properly before this court because Defendant failed to object at sentencing or to raise these grounds in his motion to reconsider sentence and is presenting these grounds for the first time on appeal.
While the State's assertion is correct, this court has reviewed claims of excessiveness where no objection was made or no motion to reconsider sentence filed. See State v. Johnlouis ,
Defendant's sentences. See State v. Clark ,
We will review Defendant's sentences with regard to the three factors enunciated in Lisotta ,
Additionally, we note that all of Defendant's sentences are mid to upper-range sentences, and none of them reach the maximum sentence available under the sentencing provision applicable to each count. Under the circumstances present in this case, we cannot say that the trial court abused its broad discretion in sentencing Defendant.
Alternatively, the State argues, and we agree, that Defendant's assertion that the bill of information must specify the subparagraphs for sentencing is more an argument that Defendant did not receive notice of the sentencing provisions than an excessive sentence claim. Citing State v. Crosby ,
Defendant herein did not reserve any rights at the time of his guilty plea. Further, he had sufficient notice of the crimes for which he was entering a plea. Defendant stated in his guilty plea hearing that he understood what he was pleading guilty to, and the court explained to him that he would be sentenced under La.R.S. 14:283(B)(3) for the first count involving an adult and that he would be sentenced under La.R.S. 14:283(B)(4) for the second and third counts involving a juvenile.
We also conclude that Defendant waived any non-jurisdictional defects when he failed to reserve them at the plea hearing and was properly given notice and sentenced under subparagraphs (B)(3) and (4) of La.R.S. 14:283. Therefore,
Defendant's argument that La.R.S. 14:283(B)(1) does not authorize the denial of parole is without merit as Defendant was not sentenced under this subparagraph.
Lastly, Defendant argues that his sentence is excessive because the trial court failed to consider his cognitive abilities and influences on his actions. The trial court, however, stated on the record that it considered the factors of La.Code Crim.P. art. 894.1, including Defendant's medical history, criminal record, and addiction treatment, along with statements from his family, and the contents of the PSI.
DECREE
Defendant's convictions and sentences are affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to La.R.S. 46:1844(W), the initials of the minor victim will be used to protect and maintain her privacy.
Section (B)(3) of the video voyeurism statute provides that anyone convicted of "observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping ... actual or simulated sexual intercourse, masturbation," or certain body parts shall be "imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one year or more than five years, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence." Section (B)(4) of the video voyeurism statute provides that:
Whoever commits the crime of video voyeurism when the observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping is of any child under the age of seventeen with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of the offender shall ... be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years or more than ten years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Both the two-years imprisonment maximum found in La.R.S. 14:283(B)(1), the generalized sentencing provision of the statute, and the enhanced sentences found in La.R.S. 14:283 provide for the imposition of a fine, but no fine was imposed in this case.
According to the Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) which the trial court ordered at the time of his guilty plea, Defendant pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in May 2005, and he was sentenced to six months in jail.
Cavernomas are abnormal clusters of vessels with small bubbles (or caverns) filled with blood that can cause seizures, stroke symptoms, hemorrhages, and headaches.
Although he offered no explanation of this assertion in his motion to reconsider, Defendant noted in his brief to this court that he had brain surgery in February 2016.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.