People v. Smith

William Smith, the defendant-appellant, pled guilty to the murder of Otha Byrd. He also entered a plea of guilty to the aggravated battery of the deceased which had occurred 6 months before the murder. The pleas were the result of negotiations between the State and the defendant, and the trial court sentenced the defendant to terms of 3 to 9 years for the aggravated battery and 25 to 75 years for the murder.

The defendant raises two issues on appeal: whether the State violated the terms of the plea agreement and whether the trial court imposed an excessive sentence on the plea of guilty to the…