The Louisiana Supreme Court has sent the case of a Loreauville man sentenced to 75 years in prison for leading the armed robbery of a New Iberia hair salon in 2006 back to the trial court for resentencing, saying the judge abused the trial court’s discretion in determining the penalty.

Ruffin Stokes was sentenced in 2010 to 75 years at hard labor for his part in an armed robbery at Charlie’s Headquarters Hair Salon on Ann Street on Dec. 21, 2006. During the robbery, Stokes pointed a gun at the owner, the owner’s wife and their 3-year-old son. The owner charged Stokes, tackling him. During the struggle, the gun fired a round into the ceiling of the salon.

At his sentencing, 16th District Court Judge Edward Leonard assigned Stokes a sentence near the high end of the 10-to-99 year range allowed for armed robbery. On appeal, 3rd Circuit Court Judge Phyllis Keaty determined that the sentence, although within the statutory sentencing range, was unconstitutionally excessive.

The case made its way to the Louisiana Supreme Court, where the court agreed with Keaty’s decision. According to court records, Justice Scott Crichton agreed with Leonard that Stokes’ actions required a harsh sentence, but also stated that Leonard did not properly comply with sentencing guidelines.

“The trial judge deemed (Stokes’) youth an aggravating factor, rather than a mitigating factor, emphasizing that defendant would likely commit additional crimes,” Crichton wrote in his concurrence with the court’s decision.

At the time of the armed robbery, Stokes was 20 years old. The robbery was his first offense.

Because Leonard stepped down from the bench in 2014, the case will be sent to 16th Judicial District Judge Gregory Aucoin for resentencing. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.