Loveless v. State

ON DIRECT APPEAL

DeBRULER, Justice.

This is a direct appeal of a sentence from the Jefferson Cireuit Court. In accordance with a plea agreement, Appellant Melinda D. Loveless pled guilty to murder, criminal confinement, and arson. The plea agreement permitted a contested sentencing hearing where the State retained the right to pursue the maximum sentence available. The sentencing judge concluded that the arson and murder convictions merged and sentenced Appellant to the maximum sentences available for murder, sixty (60) years, and erimi-nal confinement, twenty (20) years, and ordered the…