STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. STEVEN ANTWONE WATSON (2026)

Steven Atwone Watson (“Defendant”) appeals from order entered following a hearing pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19A, et seq. (2025) and Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460, 183 L. Ed. 2d 407 (2012), which held the imposition of Defendant's two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole on a juvenile should not be modified to life with the possibility of parole. The State concedes error, and we vacate and remand for resentencing.

I. Background

Defendant was convicted of two counts of first-degree murders based upon premeditation and deliberation and under the felony murder rule by a jury on 16 April 1999. Defendant was seventeen years old at the time of the crimes. Defendant was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Defendant appealed to this Court as of right. A prior panel of this Court found no error by unpublished opinion. See State v. Watson, 144 N.C. App. 451, 548 S.E.2d 582 (2001) (unpublished). The trial court amended the judgment to have both life sentences to run consecutively.

The trial court held a resentencing hearing pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19A, et seq. (2025) and Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460, 183 L. Ed. 2d 407 (2012) and held the imposition of two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for Defendant did not violate the Eight Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. Defendant appeals.

II. Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction lies in this court pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat § 7A-27(b) (2025).

III. Issues

Defendant argues the trial court erred by: (1) failing to issue a written order, which includes adequate findings regarding the presence or absence of mitigating factors, in compliance with the mandates of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19C (2025); and, (2) violating Defendant's Eighth Amendment rights by imposing the most severe punishment. Additionally, Defendant argues his Sixth Amendment rights were violated by the ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”).

IV. Analysis

Defendant argues and the State concedes the superior court's written Miller resentencing order did not contain the findings as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19C(a) (2025), which requires a sentencing court to “include findings on the absence or presence of any mitigating factors” from the list provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19B(c) (2025). A prior panel of this Court has held this language “is a mandate to trial judges, and ․ failure to comply with the statutory mandate is [a] reversible error.” State v. Antone, 240 N.C. App. 408, 410, 770 S.E.2d 128, 130 (2015) (citation omitted).

In light of this decision, we need not reach Defendant's remaining Eighth Amendment and IAC arguments.

V. Conclusion

Under the express terms of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19C (2025) and Antone, the superior court's written order was inadequate. The order of the trial court appealed from is vacated, and the cause is remanded for a new resentencing hearing consistent with Miller and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.19C (2025). It is so ordered.

VACATED AND REMANDED.

Report per Rule 30(e).

TYSON, Judge.

Judges GRIFFIN and FLOOD concur.