The goal of a plea deal is typically to offer someone reduced charges or a lighter sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.
For example, someone could be accused of assault. In a plea deal, they may be offered charges for disorderly conduct instead. If they plead guilty, the assault charges may be dropped.
However, there may be situations in which you believe the plea deal you accepted was unfair. Perhaps it was misrepresented to you. The way the deal was explained may have indicated that you would receive a lesser sentence or that your charges would be reduced, so you entered a guilty plea when you otherwise would have pleaded not guilty and taken the case to trial. But at the sentencing hearing, you may have discovered that you received essentially the same sentence, leaving you feeling as though you were manipulated into accepting the plea deal.
How did the judge interpret the law?
There are many reasons why something like this could happen. For instance, the judge often still has discretion to impose the sentence, even when a certain deal has been reached with the prosecution. However, if the judge misinterpreted the law or made mistakes when applying sentencing guidelines, the sentence that was handed down may genuinely not be fair or just.
In a case like that, even though you entered a guilty plea and accepted a deal, you may still want to explore your options for post-conviction relief. You deserve a fair sentence, and you do have legal rights. It can help to work with an experienced attorney to consider the next steps you should take to address the issue.