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Sentence

The judgment that a court formally pronounces after finding a criminal defendant guilty.  "Sentence" refers to the term of imprisonment or probation imposed on a convicted defendant for criminal wrongdoing.

Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary

Punishment in a criminal case. A sentence can range from a fine and community service to life imprisonment or death. For most crimes, the sentence is chosen by the trial judge; the jury chooses the sentence only in a capital case, when it must choose between life in prison without parole and death.

Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.

August 19, 2010, 5:24 pm

 

"Francisco Gaona-Doval appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea conviction of exporting from the United States to Mexico defense articles on the United States Munitions List without first obtaining an export license or written authorization for exportation.  He argues that his sentence is substantively unreasonable because it is greater than necessary to achieve the sentencing goals of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)."

"Gaona-Doval's arguments do not establish that the district court judge abused his discretion or committed plain error by declining to impose a shorter sentence.  Gaona-Doval has not rebutted the presumption of reasonableness that attaches to his within-guidelines sentence."