Ronnie Jamel Rice v. State of Indiana

MASSA, Justice.

Ronnie Jamel Rice appeals the trial court’s sentencing order, arguing it improperly relies on non-statutory aggravated as a basis for imposing a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Because we believe the order as revised comports with our precedent and does not represent an abuse of the trial court’s discretion, we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

Rice pled guilty to murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, and robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole and exercised his right to direct appeal to this Court. On appeal, Rice argued the…