Case ID: so2d_542/html/0425-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "LEHAN, Judge. DANAHY, Acting Chief Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James WATTS, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. Steven SMITH, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    Nos. 88-01404, 88-01449.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
    April 21, 1989.
    James Marion Moorman, Public Defender and Andrea Steffen, Asst. Public Defender, Bartow, for appellants.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, Donna A. Provonsha and Stephen A. Baker, Asst. Attys. Gen., Tampa, for appellee.
   LEHAN, Judge.

In this appeal, consolidated because of the factual and legal similarities between each appellant’s case, two issues are presented. We conclude that the first issue, concerning the trial court’s alleged lack of subject matter jurisdiction, is without merit and, accordingly, affirm in that regard. We discuss only the second issue which concerns treatment of youthful offenders upon revocation of probation or community control pursuant to section 958.14, Florida Statutes (1987) (part of the Youthful Offender Act). We hold that the trial court erred in resentencing each appellant to a term of incarceration of more than six years upon the revocation of his community control.

The background of this case may be summarized as follows. In May 1985 an information charged the appellants with armed robbery. A jury found them guilty. The court sentenced them as youthful offenders to four years incarceration to be followed by two years youthful offender community control. § 958.04, Fla.Stat. (1983). In early 1988 affidavits were filed alleging their substantive violations of community control. Both appellants pleaded guilty to community control violations. The state sought departures from the recommended guidelines sentences based upon extensive, unscorable juvenile offenses. The court sentenced the appellants to departure sentences of ten years incarceration. The court did not sentence either appellant pursuant to the Youthful Offender Act as had been done in 1985. The appellants appeal these sentences, claiming that since they were initially sentenced as youthful offenders, section 958.14, Florida Statutes (1987) as amended in 1985, mandates that upon the revocation of their community control they receive a sentence of not more than six years.

We agree with appellants’ position that the 1985 amendment to section 958.14 imposes a six year limitation on the sentence of imprisonment that can be imposed upon revocation of a youthful offender’s probation or community control. See Buckle v. State, 528 So.2d 1285 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988). See also Hall v. State, 536 So.2d 268 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Miles v. State, 536 So.2d 262 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Reams v. State, 528 So.2d 558 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Watson v. State, 528 So.2d 101 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). Contra Franklin v. State, 526 So.2d 159 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988).

Franklin cited Crosby v. State, 487 So.2d 416 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986), as support for a conclusion contrary to our holding in this case. Crosby does contain a statement that section 958.14 as amended did not require the trial court to cap defendant’s sentence in that case at six years. However, as Crosby itself pointed out, the 1985 amendment to section 958.14 was not in effect when the defendant in that case was resentenced after violation of probation. Accordingly, that statement was dicta.

We believe the legislative intent behind that amendment is reflected under its terms by the holdings in Buckle, Hall, Miles, Reams, and Watson. As did Reams, we certify conflict with Franklin.

Reversed and remanded for resentenc-ing.

PATTERSON, J., concurs.

DANAHY, A.C.J., concurs specially with opinion.

DANAHY, Acting Chief Judge,

concurring specially.

While I agree with the majority’s characterization that the relevant statement of Crosby can be considered dicta, I remain doubtful that the legislature clearly stated its intent to cap a defendant’s term of imprisonment upon resentencing at six years when he violates his community control imposed pursuant to the Youthful Offender Act. Our decision today severely harnesses the discretion of a trial judge at resentencing. One must question any legislative rationale which mandates such a resentencing cap especially in light of the fact that it is not mandatory that the trial judge assign a convicted defendant youthful offender status at the initial sentencing. See, § 958.04, Fla.Stat. (1985) (“the court may sentence as a youthful offender any person” who meets certain criteria, one of which is that he not have been previously classified as a youthful offender) (emphasis added); Ch. 80-321, § 1, Laws of Fla.

Although the supreme court had had this question presented to it in Brooks v. State, 478 So.2d 1052 (Fla.1985), which dealt with a pre-1985 amendment crime, the court provided no discussion of the effect of the 1985 amendment to the Youthful Offender Act concerning the trial court’s discretion in resentencing again as a youthful offender upon revocation of probation or community control. Consequently, the district courts of appeal have been giving conflicting interpretations of the statute as amended. The issue needs to be reclarified post-Brooks, and I commend the majority’s certification of conflict to achieve that goal.