Collins v. Commonwealth

JOHNSTONE, Justice.

Stella Marie Collins raises a single issue in this appeal: whether an appeal by the Commonwealth of a defendant’s sentence in a criminal case is barred by double jeopardy principles. We conclude that it is not and affirm Collins’s sentence.

In February of 1995, a jury of her peers found Collins guilty of intentional murder and first-degree criminal abuse. The trial court then offered Collins sentences in the minimum range for both offenses if Collins would agree to waive her right to jury sentencing. The Commonwealth objected to this, but was overruled by the trial court.…