Does 134 -Year Sentence Constitute Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
State of Ohio v. Marquis A. Hairston, Case no. 2007-0394 10th District Court of Appeals (Franklin County) ISSUE: Is a trial court’s sentencing order imposing consecutive prison terms totaling 134 years for 26 felony offenses committed during three home invasion robberies unconstitutional under the prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishment?” BACKGROUND: Marquis Hairston is appealing a 10th District Court of Appeals ruling that upheld the sentence he received for multiple felony convictions arising from three home invasion robberies he and others committed in Columbus’ German Village neighborhood. Hairston was convicted in 2006 on 26 felony counts arising from the three robberies, which took place in the early morning hours of Sept. 27, Oct. 10 and 25, 2005. In each case, the victims were forced at gunpoint to take off their clothing, were tied up and threatened, and personal property from their homes was taken away in their stolen vehicles. Hairston was apprehended by police and
