Jolly v. State

Tom Glaze, Justice.

This appeal requires us to decide for tice. whether, under the Sixth Amendment, a criminal defendant’s right to a speedy trial encompasses a right to a speedy sentencing. We conclude that it does, and therefore we reverse the trial court’s order sentencing appellant Michael Jolly to twenty-four years in prison (of which twelve years were suspended).

Jolly was charged with rape on August 27, 1996, for having consensual sexual intercourse with a twelve-year-old girl. Jolly was nineteen years old at the time. The trial was originally set for August 19, 1997; however, on August…