State v. Arkansas

hThe defendant, Allen Ray Arkansas, pled guilty to three counts of distribution of cocaine. The trial court imposed concurrent sentences of 18 years at hard labor on each count, with the first two years of each count to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The trial court also ordered him to pay a fine of $5,000 and court costs for each count, or to serve 60 days in lieu of payment. The defendant now appeals his sentences as excessive. He also argues that because he is indigent, he cannot be sentenced to serve jail time in lieu of payment of the fine. For…