Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1980

The court affirmed Bonanno’s 21-year sentence for distributing cocaine, concluding that the sentencing judge complied with the statutory sentencing guidelines and that the sentence was not excessive in light of the scale and planned reach of the distribution operation.

The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s denial of habeas corpus writs, holding that a violation of C.Cr.P. 230.1 requires the defendant’s unconditional release forthwith, even when the defendant is already out on bail.