State v. Powell

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS No. 115,457 STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee, v. KURT POWELL, Appellant. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. Except for a first time conviction, Jessica's Law requires a hard 25 life sentence for a defendant who is 18 years of age or older and convicted of the statutorily enumerated crime, which includes sex offenses. 2. For a first time Jessica's Law conviction, K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-6627(d)(1) provides discretion to sentence a defendant under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines Act if "the [sentencing] judge finds substantial and compelling reasons, following a review…