State v. Williams

EDWARDS, Judge.

Defendant, Henry Williams, was charged by bill of information with aggravated arson. Following a trial by jury, he was found guilty of simple arson where damages amount to $500.00 or more. The trial judge sentenced defendant to three and one-half years at hard labor, with credit for time served. Defendant appeals, alleging that the sentence is excessive.

ERROR PATENT

The applicable penalty provision for simple arson (R.S. 14:52) requires the imposition of both a fine and imprisonment. However, the record reveals that the trial judge gave no consideration to the levying of a fine.…