OPINION
This mаtter is before the court on its own motion for summary disposition on the ground that no substantial issuе is presented for review. See Utah R.App. P. 10(a)(2), (e) (1997). The State and defendant have respоnded to the motion. We affirm.
Defendant was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-404.1(3)(g) (1995), a first degree felony. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-404.1(4) (1995). Pursuant to a plea аgreement, he entered a plea of no contest to an amended chargе of attempted sexual abuse of a child, a third degree felony. See Utah Code Ann. §§ 76-4-101, -102(3), -5-404.1(1) (1995). Defendant signed a Statement Regarding Plea Agreement with the trial court in which he acknowledged thаt a sentence of not more than five years in the Utah State Prison and/or a fine cоuld be imposed based on his plea, and that entry of his plea did not mean that the cоurt would not impose a fine or a sentence of imprisonment, or both.
At sentencing, prоsecution and defense counsel jointly recommended that defendant be granted рrobation subject to successful completion of sexual abuse therapy. The triаl court rejected this recommendation and sentenced defendant to a term of not more than five years at the Utah State Prison. A fine was also imposed.
Defendant now appeals the trial court’s sentence. He asserts that he should have been оffered an opportunity to withdraw his plea when the trial court decided not to follow the recommendation of counsel. He also claims that this sentence constitutеs cruel and unusual punishment under the United States and Utah Constitutions.
Defendant incorrectly basеs his claim regarding the withdrawal of his plea on Rule 11(h)(3) of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, whiсh states: “[i]f the judge then decides that final disposition should not be in conformity with the plea agreement, the judge shall advise the defendant and then call upon the defendant to either affirm or withdraw the plea.” Defendant cites State v. Thurston,
Rule 11(h)(3) provides that a defendant can “affirm or withdraw [a] plea” only if a judge determines that the final disposition of a case should somehow differ from a proposed disposition to which a judge earlier agreed. In this case, the only proposed disposition to which the judge agreed
Further, Thurston supports the conclusion reached in this case. In Thurston, this court stated:
Where a defendant is aware that there is no guarantee the court will agree to follow the prosecutоr’s recommendation, there is no reason to set aside a guilty plea if the court did nоt follow the prosecutor’s recommendation, even if the defendant is disappоinted with the severity of the sentence. Defendant’s mere subjective belief as to a рotential sentence is insufficient to invalidate a guilty plea as involuntary or unknowing.
Defendant’s constitutional claims are also without merit. Utah Cоde Ann. § 76-3-203(3) (1995) provides for sentencing in the ease of a third degree felony for a term not to exceed five years. Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301(1)(b) (1995) authorizes a fine of up to $5,000 in the case of а third degree felony conviction. Defendant’s sentence was consistent with these guidelines. Thus, defendant’s only real complaint is that the judge failed to accept counsel’s recommendation. This the judge could do under Rule 11. The fact that defendant is disappоinted with the sentence imposed does not mean it is improper.
Defendant’s sentence conformed with the plea agreement, and his constitutional claims are without merit. Therefore, we affirm.
GREENWOOD, JACKSON and ORME, JJ., concur.
Notes
. It is not clear from the record whether the judge, upon request of the parties pursuant to Rule 11(h)(2), initially agreed to accept the tentative plea agreement.