Case ID: so2d_557/html/0593-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "STONE, Judge. LETTS, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Patrick Joseph MORGANTI, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
    No. 89-0053.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    Jan. 17, 1990.
    Rehearing Denied March 29, 1990.
    
      Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender and Marcy K. Allen, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Celia A. Terenzio, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for appellee.
   STONE, Judge.

This is a third appeal from sentences imposed following a violation of probation. The previously reversed sentences were for thirty and fifteen years incarceration. Morganti v. State, 498 So.2d 557 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986), approved, 509 So.2d 929 (1987); Morganti v. State, 524 So.2d 641 (Fla.1988). Here, the sentence was a term of five and one-half years (5V2) in prison and a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) fine followed by eighteen (18) months additional probation. Appellant was also directed to pay the fine as a condition of probation. The presumptive guideline sentencing range is 5V2 to 7 years.

The appellant contests the imposition of a fine for the first time upon resentencing, contending that it constitutes an impermissible enhancement of his sentence. Kominsky v. State, 330 So.2d 800 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976). He also contends that the trial court may not impose a term of probation over the defendant’s objection. See Brown v. State, 305 So.2d 309 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974); Dearth v. State, 390 So.2d 108 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980).

The imposition of a fine for the first time upon a resentencing, where the defendant has rejected a previously imposed longer term of incarceration, does not constitute an abuse of discretion, nor is it an unconstitutional penalty, forbidden under North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2089, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). Cf. Johnson v. State, 502 So.2d 1291 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). We also considered Lambert v. State, 545 So.2d 838 (Fla.1989) and Scott v. State, 550 So.2d 111 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989) and deem them inapposite. We note that the record is silent as to why the fine was not initially imposed. However, it is not unreasonable to consider that this was related to the length of the initial terms of incarceration and the fact that the initial longer sentences were not coupled with a successive period of probation. Additionally, the imposition of the fine is not a deviation from the sentencing guidelines. Cf. Whiteman v. State, 465 So.2d 591 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985).

The probation portion of the sentence imposed was a lawful sentence. Woods v. State, 542 So.2d 443 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Evans v. State, 544 So.2d 1160 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989). We have considered Brown v. State and Dearth v. State and do not read these cases to require that the consent of a defendant be obtained as a prerequisite to a term of probation rather than a fixed period of incarceration. We also note that those cases predated the sentencing guidelines and therefore did not consider the role that probation and successive probation may now play in the guideline sentencing scheme.

The judgment and sentence are affirmed. However, we certify the following question to the supreme court:

WHETHER THE IMPOSITION OF A FINE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A RESENTENCING MUST CONSTITUTE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ENHANCEMENT OF SENTENCE.

WALDEN, J., concurs.

LETTS, J., dissents with opinion.

LETTS, Judge,

dissenting in part.

I concur with the majority that a defendant does not have the right to reject probation and elect incarceration. However, I agree with the defendant that the $10,000 fine constituted an enhanced sentence.

When we, for the second time, remanded this case for resentencing within the guidelines (Morganti v. State, 510 So.2d 1182 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987), rev’d, 524 So.2d 641 (Fla.1988)), the trial judge complied in all respects except that he tacked on a $10,000 fine. The state cites several cases which have held that a fine is not an impermissible enhancement. However, the Supreme Court of Florida has not yet ruled on this issue in the context of resentencing.

The guidelines do not address the question of fines and, therefore, to impose them may not legally constitute either a departure or an enhancement. However, the assessment of a $10,000 fine, for the first time upon remand for resentencing, would feel very much like an enhancement to me, were I on the receiving end thereof. I notice that a problem, somewhat similar to the one now before us, appeared in the case of Johnson v. State, 502 So.2d 1291 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987). In that case, the district court certified a question, the answer to which might have controlled the outcome here. However, the supreme court was never called on to answer that question. I am glad the majority has agreed to certify the question. 
      
      . See also Grice v. State, 528 So.2d 1347 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988), especially the dissent by T. Zehmer, with which I agree.