People v. Cobbs

The Court of Appeals reversed this defendant’s conviction on the ground that the trial judge improperly participated in the formulation of a sentence agreement. We believe that the trial judge did not err, and we therefore reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and reinstate the judgment of the circuit court.

I

This case arises from an incident that occurred on Father’s Day in 1989. The defendant wished to see his daughter, and was frustrated by the refusal of the child’s mother to permit a visit. To pressure the mother into allowing a visit, the defendant abducted her older daughter. He…