State v. McLeod

The state appeals and alleges the trial court erred in imposing a sentence under the Youthful Offender Act (YOA) that deviated downward from the sentencing guidelines without a written order stating reasons for the departure. We affirm.

McLeod entered pleas of guilty to the charges of robbery and kidnapping. His sentencing guidelines scoresheet indicated a sentence within the range of five and one-half to seven years incarceration. McLeod was sentenced under the YOA to four years incarceration to be followed by two years community control on each count,, the counts to run concurrently. No…