State v. Thomsen, 242 N.C. App. 475 (Aug. 4, 2015)

aff'd on other grounds, 369 N.C. 22 (Aug. 19, 2016)

The trial court erred by concluding that the defendant’s 300-month minimum, 420-month maximum sentence for statutory rape and statutory sex offense violated the Eighth Amendment. The court concluded: “A 300-month sentence is not grossly disproportionate to the two crimes to which Defendant pled guilty. Furthermore, Defendant’s 300-month sentence … is less than or equal to the sentences of many other offenders of the same crime in this jurisdiction.”