Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Maurice FISHER, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1997-11-05
Citations: 700 So. 2d 1253
Docket Number: No. 97-0815
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Maurice FISHER, Appellee.
Judges: PARIENTE and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 700
Pages: 1253–1253

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Maurice FISHER, Appellee.
No. 97-0815.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Nov. 5, 1997.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Jeanine M. Germanowicz, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Tatjana Ostapoff, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
WARNER, Judge.
The state appeals the trial court's imposition of appellee's downward departure sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver or sell. The court departed based on Barbera v. State, 505 So.2d 413 (Fla.1987), receded from on other grounds, Pope v. State, 561 So.2d 554 (Fla.1990). The appellee testified at the sentencing hearing that he was under the influence of drugs on the day of the incident "at that time." We think that this reference to time can only mean that the appellee was on drugs at the time he committed the offense. The state did not cross-examine appellee on this point. Therefore, we find that the evidence was sufficient to prove that appellee was impaired at the time of the offense, thereby justifying a Barbera downward departure.
Affirmed.
PARIENTE and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.