State v. Meador

OPINION

OGG, Presiding Judge.

In this appeal we must determine if the trial court abused its discretion in imposing an enhanced punishment for the appellant/defendant’s conviction of second degree murder. Specifically, we must examine the provisions of A.R.S. § 13-702(D) (aggravating circumstances) to determine if certain findings in aggravation, used to enhance the sentence by the trial judge, were warranted under the law and facts of the case.

The defendant was charged with first degree murder, armed robbery, and theft of property having a value of more than $1,000. After a jury trial, the…