State of Indiana v. Matthew Stidham

Summary

The Indiana Supreme Court held that extraordinary circumstances permitted it to revisit its prior rejection of Matthew Stidham’s sentence challenge despite res judicata, because sentencing review had become less restrictive and juvenile-sentencing law had materially changed. Applying Appellate Rule 7(B), the Court concluded that Stidham’s maximum 138-year sentence for crimes committed at age seventeen was inappropriate in light of his youth, abusive childhood, rehabilitation efforts, and the nature of the offenses. The Court revised the aggregate sentence to 88 years and remanded for entry of a conforming sentencing order.