Case Name: David JACOBS and Brian Cullen, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1988-03-29
Citations: 522 So. 2d 540
Docket Number: No. 87-2649
Parties: David JACOBS and Brian Cullen, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: Before BASKIN, DANIEL S. PEARSON and FERGUSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 522
Pages: 540–542

Head Matter:
David JACOBS and Brian Cullen, Appellants, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 87-2649.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
March 29, 1988.
David Jacobs and Brian Cullen, in pro. per.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., and Margarita Muina Febres, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.
Before BASKIN, DANIEL S. PEARSON and FERGUSON, JJ.

Opinion:
BASKIN, Judge.
Defendants Jacobs and Cullen challenge the trial court's order denying their motions to correct allegedly illegal sentences. We affirm.
The state charged defendants with trafficking in cocaine in excess of 400 grams. Under that charge, defendants were subject to mandatory minimum sentences of fifteen years imprisonment. § 893.135(1) (b)3, Fla.Stat. (1985). As part of a plea bargain with the state, defendants agreed to reduction of the charges and sentences of ten-years imprisonment. Pursuant to negotiations, defendants entered pleas of guilty to reduced charges of trafficking in cocaine in excess of 200 grams, but less than 400 grams, and were each sentenced to serve ten years in prison. The presumptive sentences on the reduced charges are less than the imposed sentences.
Defendants contend that the ten-year sentences they received are illegal because they exceed the recommended guidelines range and the mandatory minimum sentence. We disagree. Defendants clearly benefited from the negotiated reduction of the charges.
Although the trial court imposed sentences greater than the presumptive sentences, it enunciated clear and convincing reasons for enhancing the sentences. The plea agreement constitutes a valid reason for departure. See Holland v. State, 508 So.2d 5 (Fla.1987); Rowe v. State, 523 So.2d 620 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988); Denmark v. State, 519 So.2d 20 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987); Quarterman v. State, 506 So.2d 50, 52 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987); see also Grimes v. State, 499 So.2d 42, 43 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986).
Accordingly, we affirm the sentences under review.
Affirmed.
BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ., concur.
. The mandatory minimum sentence for the reduced charge is five years. § 893.135(l)(b)2, Fla.Stat. (1985). Defendant Jacobs' guidelines sentence range is 3'/2 — Wi years; defendant Cullen's sentence range is 5'/2 — 7 years. Since the mandatory minimum sentence under the reduced charge exceeds Jacobs' guidelines sentence, the mandatory sentence takes precedence; thus, Jacobs' presumptive sentence is 5 years. Vanover v. State, 498 So.2d 899, 901 (Fla.1986); Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.701(d)(9). Because Cullen's guideline sentence exceeds the mandatory minimum sentence; Cullen's presumptive sentence is 5Vi — 7 years. Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.701(d)(9).
. The trial court must state clear and convincing reasons for departure where the sentence exceeds both the guidelines and the mandatory minimum sentence. See Munroe v. State, 514 So.2d 397 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987), review denied, 519 So.2d 987 (Fla.1988); Hernandez v. State, 501 So.2d 163 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); Pedraza v. State, 493 So.2d 1122, 1123 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986), review denied, 504 So.2d 768 (Fla.1987).