State Of Washington v. Brian Ronquillo

Becker, J. —

¶1 At issue is a sentence of 51.3 years imposed for murder and other violent crimes the offender committed in a gang-motivated drive-by shooting when he was 16 years old. We reverse and remand for resentencing because the trial court erroneously concluded there was no legal basis for an exceptional sentence. This is a de facto life sentence governed by Miller v. Alabama. Under our sen tencing statutes and Miller, the diminished culpability of youth may serve as a mitigating factor. The court may also consider whether running three sentences consecutively produced a total sentence…