Case Title: State v. Mosley

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC13-704

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2014-10-16T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC13-704 
____________ 
 
STATE OF FLORIDA, 
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
FRANK A. MOSLEY, 
Respondent. 
 
[October 16, 2014] 
 
CANADY, J. 
 
In this case we consider whether consecutive sentences may be imposed for 
prison releasee reoffender (PRR) offenses that were committed during a single 
criminal episode.  We have for review the decision of the First District Court of 
Appeal in Mosley v. State, 112 So. 3d 538, 539 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013), which held 
that “PRR sentences may not be ordered to run consecutively when the crimes 
were committed during a single criminal episode.”  The First District’s decision 
expressly and directly conflicts with Young v. State, 37 So. 3d 389, 391 (Fla. 5th 
DCA 2010), which reached the opposite conclusion.  We have jurisdiction.  See 
art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const. 
 
 
- 2 - 
 
Based on the statutory text and our caselaw, we conclude that a trial court 
may order PRR sentences to run consecutively for crimes committed during a 
single criminal episode.  Accordingly, we quash the decision of the First District. 
I. 
 
Following a jury trial, Frank Andre Mosley was convicted of: (1) lewd and 
lascivious molestation of a person older than twelve but younger than sixteen by an 
offender over the age of eighteen under section 800.04(5)(c)2., Florida Statutes 
(2006); and (2) aggravated stalking of a minor under sixteen years of age under 
section 784.048(5), Florida Statutes (2006).  The evidence produced at trial 
showed that on April 1, 2007, Mosley, then forty-seven years old, squeezed the 
victim’s buttocks while they were swimming.  At that time, the victim was thirteen 
years old.  Mosley first met the victim a few days before he molested her, and 
starting on April 1, he repeatedly approached her at her home and around the 
community.  The victim reported Mosley to law enforcement on April 4, after he 
arrived at her home at approximately 6 a.m. that day and dropped off a letter for 
her.  Mosley was arrested later that day while he was parked near the victim’s 
home. 
 
Mosley was sentenced as a PRR to fifteen years of imprisonment on the 
lewd and lascivious molestation count and five years of imprisonment on the 
aggravated stalking count, with the sentences to run consecutively.  Subsequently, 
 
 
- 3 - 
Mosley filed a motion to correct a sentencing error under Florida Rule of Criminal 
Procedure 3.800(b)(2).  Mosley argued that his consecutive PRR sentences were 
illegal because his convictions for lewd and lascivious molestation and aggravated 
stalking arose from a single criminal episode. 
On March 19, 2012, the trial court denied Mosley’s motion.  State v. 
Mosley, No. 07-448-CF (Fla. 1st Cir. Ct. Order filed Mar. 19, 2012) (Circuit Court 
Order).  The trial court concluded that Mosley’s convictions were the result of 
separate criminal episodes because “[a]lthough the molestation offense was alleged 
to have occurred on the same day and place as the stalking incident of April 1, 
subsequent incidents comprising the stalking offense occurred on different days at 
different locations and involved different conduct than the molestation offense.”  
Id. at 2.  The trial court went on to conclude that even if Mosley’s convictions 
arose from a single criminal episode, he could still receive consecutive PRR 
sentences under Reeves v. State, 957 So. 2d 625 (Fla. 2007), and Young.  Circuit 
Court Order at 3.  Mosley appealed his convictions and sentences to the First 
District Court of Appeal. 
The First District agreed with Mosley’s argument that he could not receive 
consecutive PRR sentences.  Mosley, 112 So. 3d at 539.  Without explanation, the 
First District concluded that Mosley’s convictions arose from a single criminal 
episode.  Id.  The court then held that “PRR sentences may not be ordered to run 
 
 
- 4 - 
consecutively when the crimes were committed during a single criminal episode.”  
Id.  As a result, the First District affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded 
Mosley’s case for resentencing.  Id. 
The State petitioned this Court for review, alleging express and direct 
conflict with Young.  In Young, the Fifth District rejected Young’s claim on 
appeal “that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive [PRR] sentences on his 
five aggravated assault convictions because all of the crimes occurred during the 
course of a single criminal episode.”  Young, 37 So. 3d at 389.  The Fifth District 
adopted the trial court’s reasoning that: 
Based upon the Supreme Court’s decision in Reeves, the cases 
cited by defendant, all of which rely upon Hale[ v. State, 630 So. 2d 
521 (Fla. 1993),] as their foundational authority, are called into 
question.  Given the holding in Reeves and the stated intent of the 
PRR statute to punish eligible offenders to the fullest extent of the 
law, the court can find no reasonable interpretation of the PRR statute 
that would prohibit consecutive PRR sentences but permit the 
imposition of consecutive PRR and criminal punishment code 
sentences as approved in Reeves. 
Id. at 391. 
II. 
 
On review, the State argues that based on Reeves, a trial court may sentence 
a defendant to consecutive PRR sentences for crimes committed during a single 
 
 
- 5 - 
criminal episode.1  Conversely, Mosley contends that this Court should approve the 
First District’s decision because a trial court cannot sentence a defendant to 
consecutive PRR sentences for crimes committed during a single criminal episode.  
Mosley’s argument relies on the United States Supreme Court’s decision in 
Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151, 2155 (2013), which held that any fact 
that increases the mandatory minimum sentence for a crime is an “element” that 
must be submitted to the jury.  Based on Alleyne, Mosley contends that Reeves 
rests on a questionable finding of a legislative preference for consecutive PRR 
sentences and an insupportable distinction between sentencing provisions that 
require minimum sentences and those that increase maximum sentences.  
According to Mosley, PRR sentences increase the maximum sentence because a 
defendant will serve a longer sentence than he would if he were eligible for gain 
time under section 944.275, Florida Statutes (2006). 
In the analysis that follows, we explain why we reject Mosley’s argument 
and adopt the reasoning articulated in Young. 
III. 
                                          
 
 
1.  The State does not challenge the First District’s reversal of the trial 
court’s finding that Mosley’s crimes consisted of separate criminal episodes.  As a 
result, we do not address whether the First District correctly concluded that 
Mosley’s crimes occurred during a single criminal episode. 
 
 
- 6 - 
 
Whether a trial court may impose consecutive PRR sentences for crimes 
committed during a single criminal episode presents a question of statutory 
interpretation, which is subject to de novo review.  See Reeves, 957 So. 2d at 629.  
When interpreting the PRR statute in Reeves, this Court stated: 
“The cardinal rule of statutory construction is ‘that a statute should be 
construed so as to ascertain and give effect to the intention of the 
Legislature as expressed in the statute.’ ”  City of Tampa v. Thatcher 
Glass Corp., 445 So. 2d 578, 579 (Fla. 1984) (quoting Deltona Corp. 
v. Fla. Pub. Serv. Comm’n, 220 So. 2d 905, 907 (Fla. 1969)).  “It is a 
fundamental rule of construction that statutory language cannot be 
construed so as to render it potentially meaningless.”  Ellis v. State, 
622 So. 2d 991, 1001 (Fla. 1993) (citing Snively Groves, Inc. v. 
Mayo, 135 Fla. 300, 184 So. 839 (1938)).  “[S]tatutory enactments are 
to be interpreted so as to accomplish rather than defeat their purpose.”  
Lewis v. Mosley, 204 So. 2d 197, 201 (Fla. 1967) (citing 6 Fla. Jur., 
Constitutional Law § 14 (1956); Owens v. Fosdick, 153 Fla. 17, 13 
So. 2d 700 (1943)). 
957 So. 2d at 629. 
Section 775.082(9), Florida Statutes (2006), states in pertinent part: 
(9)(a)1.  “Prison releasee reoffender” means any defendant who 
commits, or attempts to commit: 
. . . .  
l.  Aggravated stalking; 
. . . .  
r.  Any felony violation of s. 790.07, s. 800.04, s. 827.03, or s. 
827.071; 
 
within 3 years after being released from a state correctional facility 
operated by the Department of Corrections or a private vendor or 
within 3 years after being released from a correctional institution of 
another state, the District of Columbia, the United States, any 
possession or territory of the United States, or any foreign jurisdiction, 
 
 
- 7 - 
following incarceration for an offense for which the sentence is 
punishable by more than 1 year in this state. 
. . . .  
3.  If the state attorney determines that a defendant is a prison 
releasee reoffender as defined in subparagraph 1., the state attorney 
may seek to have the court sentence the defendant as a prison releasee 
reoffender.  Upon proof from the state attorney that establishes by a 
preponderance of the evidence that a defendant is a prison releasee 
reoffender as defined in this section, such defendant is not eligible for 
sentencing under the sentencing guidelines and must be sentenced as 
follows: 
. . . .  
c.  For a felony of the second degree, by a term of 
imprisonment of 15 years; and  
d.  For a felony of the third degree, by a term of imprisonment 
of 5 years. 
(b) A person sentenced under paragraph (a) shall be released 
only by expiration of sentence and shall not be eligible for parole, 
control release, or any form of early release.  Any person sentenced 
under paragraph (a) must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed 
sentence. 
(c) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a court from 
imposing a greater sentence of incarceration as authorized by law, 
pursuant to s. 775.084 or any other provision of law. 
(d)1.  It is the intent of the Legislature that offenders previously 
released from prison who meet the criteria in paragraph (a) be 
punished to the fullest extent of the law and as provided in this 
subsection, unless the state attorney determines that extenuating 
circumstances exist which preclude the just prosecution of the 
offender, including whether the victim recommends that the offender 
not be sentenced as provided in this subsection. 
In Reeves, this Court concluded that “[t]he text of the PRR statute expresses 
the intent or purpose that a PRR sentence not serve as the maximum sentence for 
all crimes arising out of the same criminal episode.”  957 So. 2d at 629.  The Court 
explained: 
 
 
- 8 - 
Paragraph (b) indicates that section 775.082(9) dictates a minimum 
sentence or sentencing floor, not a statutory maximum. . . .  Moreover, 
nothing in the PRR statute can be construed as restricting a trial 
judge’s general discretion to impose sentences consecutively or 
concurrently.  See § 775.021(4), Fla. Stat. (2006) (“Whoever, in the 
course of one criminal transaction or episode, commits an act or acts 
which constitute one or more separate criminal offenses, upon 
conviction and adjudication of guilt, shall be sentenced separately for 
each criminal offense; and the sentencing judge may order the 
sentences to be served concurrently or consecutively.”). 
Reeves, 957 So. 2d at 630.  As a result, this Court held that “the plain meaning of 
the PRR statute is that it provides a minimum sentence and that, given its 
allowance for imposition of the greatest sentence allowed by law, trial judges have 
the discretion to impose a [Criminal Punishment Code] sentence consecutively to a 
PRR sentence.”  Id. 
 
While addressing the conflict in Reeves, this Court disapproved the Second 
District’s decision in Rodriguez v. State, 883 So. 2d 908 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004), 
which concluded that a trial court could not impose a Criminal Punishment Code 
sentence consecutive to a PRR sentence for crimes committed as part of the same 
criminal episode.  Reeves, 957 So. 2d at 632.  This Court disagreed with the 
Second District’s reliance on Daniels v. State, 595 So. 2d 952 (Fla. 1992), and 
Hale v. State, 630 So. 2d 521 (Fla. 1993), which both precluded consecutive 
sentencing for habitual violent felony offender offenses committed in a single 
criminal episode.  Reeves, 957 So. 2d at 633.  This Court explained: 
 
 
- 9 - 
Daniels and Hale were decided under the sentencing guidelines, not 
the Criminal Punishment Code.  More significantly, in both Daniels 
and Hale, the habitual violent felony offender portion of the violent 
career criminal statute was at issue, not the PRR statute.  Therefore, 
those two cases have little bearing on the interpretation of the PRR 
statute. 
Id. 
 
More recently, in Cotto v. State, 139 So. 3d 283 (Fla. 2014), this Court 
addressed whether a habitual offender sentence may be imposed consecutively to a 
PRR sentence.  We held “that Hale does not prohibit a trial court from imposing a 
PRR sentence consecutive to a habitual offender sentence.”  Id. at 290.  We 
concluded that  
this Court has never applied Hale to the PRR statute.  The PRR statute 
specifically states that the legislative intent is to punish those eligible 
for PRR sentencing to the fullest extent of the law.  See § 
775.082(9)(d)1., Fla. Stat. (2002).  This express statement of intent 
demonstrates that the discretion of trial courts to impose consecutive 
sentences is not in any way limited by the PRR statute. 
Id. at 289. 
Here, Mosley held that trial courts cannot impose consecutive PRR 
sentences on defendants when the sentences arise from crimes committed during a 
single criminal episode.  112 So. 3d at 539.  Mosley relied on First District caselaw 
based on Hale.  See id. (citing Preston v. State, 134 So. 3d 992 (Fla. 1st DCA 
2012); Robinson v. State, 829 So. 2d 984 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)).  However, in 
 
 
- 10 - 
Reeves and Cotto, this Court concluded that Hale is inapplicable to cases involving 
section 775.082(9) because Hale addressed a different statute. 
Conversely, Young held that a trial court may impose consecutive PRR 
sentences on a defendant for crimes committed during a single criminal episode.  
37 So. 3d at 389.  Young relied on this Court’s decision in Reeves.  See id. at 390-
91.  Young pointed out that earlier district court cases holding that defendants 
could not receive consecutive PRR sentences when the crimes arose out of a single 
criminal episode were called into question by Reeves.  See id. (discussing Boyd v. 
State, 988 So. 2d 1242 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008); Gonzalez v. State, 876 So. 2d 658 
(Fla. 3d DCA 2004); Williams v. State, 804 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); and 
Philmore v. State, 760 So. 2d 239 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000)).  Young explained that the 
prior district court decisions holding that defendants could not receive consecutive 
PRR sentences for crimes committed during the same criminal episode were all 
“based upon Hale . . . and its progeny.”  357 So. 3d at 390.  Young pointed out the 
statement in Reeves “that Hale had little bearing on the interpretation of the PRR 
statute.”  Id. 
 
Young correctly concluded that a trial court may impose consecutive PRR 
sentences on a defendant for crimes committed during a single criminal episode.  
And Mosley erroneously relied on caselaw based on Hale and its progeny to reach 
the opposite conclusion.  As this Court concluded in Reeves, “nothing in the PRR 
 
 
- 11 - 
statute can be construed as restricting a trial judge’s general discretion to impose 
sentences consecutively or concurrently.”  957 So. 2d at 630.  Further, Cotto 
recently pointed out that “this Court has never applied Hale to the PRR statute.”  
Cotto, 139 So. 3d at 289.  Therefore, the trial court correctly denied Mosley’s 
motion filed under rule 3.800(b)(2) because the trial court’s imposition of 
consecutive PRR sentences for Mosley’s lewd and lascivious molestation and 
aggravated stalking convictions was within its discretion. 
 
Mosley’s argument that “the distinction between sentence enhancements and 
mandatory minimums is ephemeral” based on his reliance on Alleyne is misplaced.  
Answer Brief of Respondent at 8-9, State v. Mosley, No. SC13-704 (Mar. 28, 
2014).  Alleyne and the instant case address different issues.  Alleyne addressed 
the issue of whether “judicial factfinding that increases the mandatory minimum 
sentence for a crime is permissible under the Sixth Amendment.”  133 S. Ct. at 
2155.  The trial judge in Alleyne found an essential element of the defendant’s 
crime—brandishing a firearm—to be proven by a preponderance of the evidence 
instead of the jury finding the element proven beyond a reasonable doubt.  Id. at 
2156.  However, the instant case does not present a challenge to judicial fact-
finding; instead, Mosley challenges the trial court’s ability to impose consecutive 
PRR sentences for crimes committed during a single criminal episode.  This Court 
has concluded that the PRR statute does not increase the maximum allowable 
 
 
- 12 - 
sentence, but instead provides “for maximum sentencing within the sentencing 
statute.”  Cotto, 139 So. 3d at 290. 
IV. 
 
Based on the foregoing, we quash the First District’s decision in Mosley and 
remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.  We approve the decision of 
the Fifth District in Young. 
 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, QUINCE, POLSTON, and PERRY, JJ., 
concur. 
LEWIS, J., concurs in result. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED.   
 
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal - Direct 
Conflict of Decisions 
 
 
First District - Case No. 1D11-4936 
 
 
(Santa Rosa County) 
 
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Trisha Meggs Pate, Assistant Attorney 
General, and Donna Antoinette Gerace, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, 
Florida,  
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Nancy Ann Daniels, Public Defender, and Glen Phillip Gifford, Assistant Public 
Defender, Second Judicial Circuit, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Respondent