Case Title: Stevie Lavan Mcknight v. State of Florida

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC95-091

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2000-04-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida
 
____________
No. SC95091
____________
STEVIE LAVAN MCKNIGHT,
Petitioner,
vs.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Respondent.
[April 6, 2000]
PER CURIAM.
We have for review the decision in McKnight v. State, 731 So. 2d 665 (Fla.
2d DCA 1999), which expressly and directly conflicts with this Court’s opinion in
White v. State, 714 So. 2d 440 (Fla. 1998), and the Fifth District Court of Appeal’s
decision in Williams v. State, 724 So. 2d 652 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999), on the issue of
whether twenty-five sentencing points may be assessed for the possession of a semi-
automatic firearm for the convicted offense of carrying a concealed firearm.  We
have jurisdiction.  Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const.
-2-
We recently resolved this conflict in Thompson v. State, No. SC95088 (Fla.
Apr. 6, 2000), wherein we held that consistent with our opinion in White, twenty-
five sentencing points may not be added to a defendant’s sentencing guideline score
sheet where the use or possession of the firearm is inherent in the commission of the
underlying felony.  We further reasoned that in making the initial determination as to
whether the assessment of additional sentencing points are appropriate, it makes no
difference whether the weapon was a firearm or a semi-automatic weapon.  In so
concluding, we approved the opinion in Williams and quashed the district court’s
decision in Thompson.  See Thompson, slip op. at 3-4. 
Accordingly, we quash the decision below in accordance with our decision in
Thompson.  
It is so ordered.
HARDING, C.J., and SHAW, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, QUINCE and LEWIS, JJ.,
concur.
WELLS, J., dissents.
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
-3-
Second District - Case No. 2D97-04404 
(Pasco County)
James Marion Moorman, Public Defender, and Megan Olson, Assistant Public
Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Florida,
for Petitioner
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Robert J. Krauss, Senior Assistant Attorney
General, Chief of Criminal Law, and Timothy A. Freeland, Assistant Attorney General,
Tampa, Florida,
for Respondent