State v. Atkisson

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS No. 115,468 STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. JAMES FRANKLIN ATKISSON, JR., Appellant. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. Except for a first time conviction, Jessica's Law requires a hard 25 life sentence for a defendant who is 18 years of age or older and convicted of the statutorily enumerated crime, which includes sex offenses. 2. For a first time Jessica's Law conviction, K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-6627(d)(1) provides discretion to sentence a defendant under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines Act if "the [sentencing] judge finds substantial and compelling reasons,…