Alden Hewey appeals from the judgment of conviction entered in the Superior Court (Kennebec County, Alexander, J.) on a jury verdict finding him guilty of robbery, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 651(1)(C) (1983) 1 and from the sentence imposed by the court. He contends the trial cоurt erred in denying his motion to suppress from evidence his statement made to the police and in the imposition of a 30-year sentence. We affirm the judgment of conviction but find the sentence imposed by the court results from an error in principle. Accordingly, we vacate the imposed sentence and remand this case to the Superior Court for the resentencing of Hewey.
The record discloses that at approximately 1:15 a.m. on October 3,1989, Christopher Cote while driving home from a social visit suddenly felt ill and pulled off the interstate into a rest area in Augusta. Returning from a restroom at the stop, Cote noticed a stranger, later identified as Hew-ey, walking toward his car. Feeling threatened, Cote reentered his car. Hewey entered Cote’s vehicle on the passenger side, pinned Cote against the inside оf the driver’s side door with his forearm and demanded money, while searching Cote’s pockets. Hewey took approximately $55 from Cote’s front pant pocket and left the car, instructing Cote not to obsеrve his movements. Cote telephoned the police and gave them the license plate number of a truck that he suspected was that of his assailant. Cote then visited the police station, identifiеd Hewey in a photographic line-up and at approximately 3:00 a.m. accompanied the police to Hewey’s home. Hewey’s truck parked outside the residence matched the description given by Cote. The hood of the truck was still warm. Hewey complied with the initial requests of the police to come outside and identify himself and responded to their query of his whereabouts that evening by stating hе had been at home. The police then arrested Hewey for the robbery of Cote. Before leaving the premises, Hewey was allowed to speak with his girlfriend. The police overheard him tell her that he had been at the Bob Inn in Waterville until 1:00 a.m. that morning and had witnesses “who would get him out of the charges.” On the *1154 way to the police station, Hewey asked the arresting officer why the officer did not believe his story.
After a hearing, the court denied Hew-ey’s pretrial motion to suppress these three statements from evidence at the trial of the present ease. Following a jury trial- finding Hewey guilty of robbery and receipt of a presentence investigation report, the trial court sentenced Hewey to the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period of 30 years with all but 25 years suspended and a рeriod of probation for six years. The Sentence Review Panel of the Supreme Judicial Court granted Hewey leave to appeal his sentence, see 15 M.R.S.A. §§ 2151-2157 (Supp.1992), and this appeal followed.
On this аppeal, Hewey confines his challenge to the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress Hewey’s statement to the investigating officer that he had been home throughout the period preceding and following the robbery. He argues that because the statement was made without the benefit of warnings pursuant to
Miranda v. Arizona,
Miranda
warnings are mandated only when a suspect is both in custody and subjected to interrogation.
See State v. Pinkham,
We agree with Hewey’s second contention. In so doing, and prior to addressing the issue presented by the present case, we use this opportunity for clarification of our review of an appeal from a sеntence imposed by the trial court. We are cognizant that in our previous opinions there has been some inconsistency in the terminology used to define each of the three steps we deem nеcessary to be followed by the trial court to achieve a greater uniformity in the sentencing process and to enable us to apply the correct standard of review to each of those steps. See 15 M.R.S.A. § 2155 (Supp.1992).
We do not here describe in detail the purposes of criminal sanctions or the multiple factors the trial court may consider. Rather, we describe a sentencing process by which the significant purposes and relevant factors may be articulated by the trial court in an individual case.
In the sentencing process, the trial court must first determine a basic period of incarceration. That determination is made
solely
by reference to the offender’s
criminal conduct
in committing the crime, that is, “by considering the particular nature and seriousness of the offense without regard to the circumstances of the offender.”
State v. Weir,
“[I]n order that [the court] may appropriately individualize each sentence,”
id.,
the court must thereafter consider
those factors peculiar to that offender.
For example, mitigating factors, that may include the favorable prospect of rehabilitation of the offender, demonstrate the offender’s low probability of re-offense and, thus, justify a diminution of the basic period of incarceration; aggravating factors demonstrate a high probability of re-offense and, in order to protect the public, justify enhancing the basic period of incarceration. In determining the appropriate degree of mitigation or aggravation of an offender’s basic period of incarceration the court may сonsider any evidence that is factually reliable and relevant.
Id.
By this means the trial court determines the
maximum
period of incarceration as a second step in the sentencing process. Clearly, if the maximum period of incarcerаtion determined by the trial court exceeds the statutory limit for that offense, it would be
*1155
an error in principle. In that regard, it is well established that there are two limits within which an offender’s maximum period of incarceration may fall for the commission of a Class A offense: the “original” limit is 20 years as the maximum period of incarceration, and the “extended” limit is 40 years. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1252(2)(A) (1983 & Supp.1992).
2
Of all Class A offenses, only the “most heinous and violent crimes сommitted against a person” are punishable by a maximum period of incarceration above the “original” limit.
State v. Lewis,
Once the trial court has determined the maximum period of incarceration, as a third and last step, the court may suspend a pоrtion of the period of maximum incarceration when, for example, the court determines that society will better be protected by affording a period of supervised probation of an offendеr. Accordingly, the maximum period of incarceration and the stated portion of that period, if any, suspended for placement of the offender on supervised probation, becomes the final sentence imposed by the court on the offender.
We review the trial court’s determination of the offender’s
basic
period of incarceration for misapplication of principle.
See State v. Hallowell,
Because of the two different standards applicable in our review of the sentencing process, the desirability of a clear articulatiоn by the trial court of its compliance with the three-step procedure becomes apparent. This articulation will aid us not only in distinguishing and applying the appropriate standard of appеllate review,— i.e., the misapplication of principle standard to a trial court’s determination of the basic period of incarceration and a standard of considerable deference tо its determinations of the maximum period of incarceration and the final sentence — but it will also facilitate a greater degree of uniformity in the sentencing process.
Applying these principles to the present case, we note the following: Hеw-ey’s conduct constituted a Class A offense against the person, involved the use of physical force, and inflicted a substantial degree of psychological damage on the victim. However, Hewеy was not armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon, the duration of the use of physical force was brief and the victim was not physically injured. The amount of money taken was less than $60. Considering these faсtors, it cannot be said that this offense was one of “the most heinous and violent crimes committed against a person.”
State v. Lewis,
The entry is:
Judgment of conviction affirmed.
Sentence is vacated. Remanded tо the Superior Court for resentencing consistent with the opinion herein.
All concurring.
Notes
. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 651(1)(C) provides:
1. A person is guilty of robbery if he commits or attempts to commit theft and at the time of his actions:
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B. He threatens to use force against аny person present with the intent
(1) to prevent or overcome resistance to the taking of the property, or to the retention of the property immediately after the taking; or
(2) to compel the person in control of the property to give it up or to engage in other conduct which aids in the taking or carrying away of the property;
C. He uses physical force on another with the intent enumerated in paragraph B, sub-paragraphs (1) or (2)....
. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1252(2)(A) provides:
2. The court shall set the term of imprisonment as follows:
A. In the case of a class A Crime, the court shall set a definite period not to exceed 40 years;