State v. Ritz
Annotate this CaseDefendant was convicted of one count of first-degree felony murder, multiple counts of fleeing or attempting to elude, and two counts of theft. Defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment for the felony murder conviction. The Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences, holding (1) the district court judge did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant’s motion to sever the crimes by date; (2) the district court judge did not err in failing to instruct the jury on lesser degrees of felony murder; and (3) the district court judge did not err in relying on Defendant’s criminal history score to enhance Defendant’s sentencing without requiring the criminal history to be included in the charging document and proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
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