PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island’s highest court has denied the appeal for a former North Providence police sergeant serving a 20-year prison term after jurors convicted him of crimes including burglary and attempted theft.
The Providence Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2iUbUwH ) the state Supreme Court determined last week that the superior court judge acted appropriately by weighing factors that led to a longer prison term than what sentencing guidelines suggested for Michael Ciresi.
The suspect in a 2004 armed robbery told police that Ciresi put him up to it. Jurors convicted Ciresi in 2008.
Ciresi argued his sentence was cruel and unusual because it was longer than the guidelines and a hardship for his family.
The high court says family hardships don’t justify a reduced punishment for serious crimes.
___
Information from: The Providence Journal, https://www.providencejournal.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.