State v. Spangler

DIAMANTIS, Judge.

The state appeals a downward departure sentence. We reverse.

The trial court departed from the recommended sentencing guidelines and sentenced Darrell R. Spangler to four concurrent 5-year sentences of imprisonment in four separate cases. This sentence is a clear departure downward from both the recommended range (17-22 years) and permitted range (12-27 years) of the sentencing guidelines; yet the trial court failed to provide contemporaneous written reasons to justify the departure. The failure to provide contemporaneous written reasons constitutes reversible error. State v.…