S-21-0320, State of Nebraska (Appellee) v. Cooke (Appellant)
Appeal from the District Court of Sarpy County, Judge Stefanie Martinez
Attorneys: April O’Loughlin (Sarpy County Public Defender) for Appellant and Matthew Lewis (Attorney General’s Office) for Appellee.
Criminal: Plea; 2nd degree murder; prosecutorial misconduct; excessive sentence
Proceedings below: The district court convicted Appellant based on her guilty plea and sentenced her to not less than sixty (60) years nor more than life imprisonment.
Issues: Appellant argues that: 1) the district court erred in imposing an excessive sentence, 2) the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct when they did not follow the sentencing recommendations as previously obligated in the plea agreement, and 3) the district court abused its discretion by failing to follow the plea agreement and by making prejudicial statements during sentencing.