Case Name: Otis WRIGHT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2006-11-01
Citations: 940 So. 2d 1215
Docket Number: No. 2D04-1062
Parties: Otis WRIGHT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: NORTHCUTT and SALCINES, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 940
Pages: 1215–1215

Head Matter:
Otis WRIGHT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 2D04-1062.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Nov. 1, 2006.
James Marion Moorman, Public Defender, and Brad Permar, Assistant Public Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Donna S. Koch, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.

Opinion:
KELLY, Judge.
Otis Wright appeals from his judgment and sentence for sexual battery and kidnapping. We find no merit in his arguments on appeal except for his claim that the trial court improperly assessed additional court costs in the amount of $150 pursuant to section 939.18(l)(a), Florida Statutes (2004). Section 939.18(l)(b) permits a court to impose this additional court cost if "it finds that the person has the ability to pay the additional assessment." Because the trial court failed to make the requisite finding, that cost must be stricken from Wright's sentence. On remand, the trial court may again assess this additional cost provided it finds that Wright has the ability to pay it. Accordingly, we reverse the portion of Wright's sentence assessing $150 in additional court costs. The trial court shall strike this cost from the sentence. We otherwise affirm the judgment and sentence.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
NORTHCUTT and SALCINES, JJ., concur.
. Wright preserved this argument by filing a rule 3.800(b) motion to correct sentence. The trial court granted the motion in part, but denied Wright's challenge to the imposition of costs.