Commonwealth v. Petzold

BECK, Judge:

In this case we decide whether the trial court must impose the statutory mandatory minimum sentence where the government’s outrageous conduct entrapped or manipulated the defendant so as to escalate the severity of the crime he has committed.

Although we accept the principles underlying sentencing entrapment, we conclude that appellant in this case has not demonstrated that a departure from mandatory sentencing provisions is appropriate.

The facts of this case are relatively simple. Appellant sold one quarter pound of marijuana to a confidential informant (Cl) who was working with…