TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The state Supreme Court says maximum penalties can be exceeded for serious crimes committed with firearms in some cases under Florida's "10-20-Life'' law.
The high court made the ruling Thursday in a 4-3 opinion. The decision resolved a conflict among lower courts.
It also upheld a 35-year sentence for Charles Medenhall, who was convicted in 2007 of attempted second-degree murder in Lake County.
If not for the 10-20-Life law his maximum would have been 30 years.
The law sets minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years for certain crimes including murder, robbery and rape committed with firearms. The minimum is 20 years if the weapon is discharged and 25 years to life if someone is seriously injured or killed.
No Comment