A Florida appeals court has upheld a 55 year jail sentence for a man convicted of three felonies as a juvenile.
In 2007 a Duval county court sentenced Anthony Julian Collins to life in prison for attempted second degree murder, carjacking and attempted armed robbery. He was sixteen when he committed the crimes.
But three years later the U.S. Supreme court rejected life sentences for juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes. In resentencing, Collins’ prison time was reduced to 55 years. Collins’ lawyers argued putting him behind bars for more than half a century is still—in effect—a life sentence.
The First District Court of Appeal disagrees. In a ruling penned by Judge Bradford Thomas the court notes after serving the full sentence Collins would still be younger than life expectancy.
