State v. Costello

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Hall, J.

This appeal constitutes a two-pronged attack upon a custodial sentence imposed by the Camden County Court following guilty pleas of defendant, a 39 year old female, to three indictments charging gambling offenses. The first prong is a claim that the sentence was excessive under the circumstances. The second is a contention that, in contrast to the sentencing provisions relating to male defendants, the statutory scheme for the custodial sentencing of female offenders arbitrarily discriminates against them and so violates the equal protection…