Matter of Personal Restraint of Moore

By personal restraint petition, Paul Preston Moore challenges the life without possibility of parole sentence he received pursuant to his conviction on a plea of guilty to first degree aggravated murder in 1980. He claims that the sentence is not authorized by former RCW 9A.32.040 and RCW 10.94.020. He also claims that his sentence violates the fifth and sixth amendments to the federal constitution. We agree that the sentence was not authorized by statute and therefore grant the petition and remand for resentencing to life with the possibility of parole. Because we decide in petitioner's…