Knipe v. State

OPINION

Judge ALLARD.

Michael B. Knipe pled guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree for sexually penetrating his three-year-old cousin.1 A first-time felony offender, Knipe faced a presumptive range of 25 to 85 years. At sentencing, Knipe requested that the superior court refer his case to the statewide three-judge sentencing panel on the ground that any term within the presumptive sentence would be manifestly unjust as applied to him. Superior Court Judge Eric A. Smith denied the request and sentenced Knipe to 30 years with 5 years suspended, 25 years to serve, the…