People v. Buehler

This case concerns when a trial court may impose a sentence of probation where the properly scored sentencing guidelines compel a term of imprisonment. Under the Michigan Sentencing Guidelines, the minimum sentence must be within the appropriate sentence range unless the court states substantial and compelling reasons to depart.1 In this case, the trial court sentenced defendant to probation, when the appropriate minimum sentence range was scored at 42 to 70 months. The Court of Appeals held that probation was a valid alternative to the prison sentence called for by the guidelines. We…