People v. LaPointe

Defendant, Phillip E. LaPointe, was charged by information with the murder of Peter Moreno, Jr., on March 7, 1978. Initially, defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. He thereafter withdrew his plea of not guilty and, represented by appointed counsel, entered a plea of guilty to the charge; prior to accepting the guilty plea, the court advised the defendant of all of the possible penalties that could be imposed for murder. Following a sentencing hearing, defendant was sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment without parole. Defendant appeals only the sentence imposed.

At the outset,…