Case Name: Wallace SMITH, Petitioner, v. Harry K. SINGLETARY, Secretary, Department of Corrections, Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, State of Florida, Respondents
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1997-06-04
Citations: 694 So. 2d 158
Docket Number: No. 97-0118
Parties: Wallace SMITH, Petitioner, v. Harry K. SINGLETARY, Secretary, Department of Corrections, Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, State of Florida, Respondents.
Judges: STONE, FARMER and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 694
Pages: 158–158

Head Matter:
Wallace SMITH, Petitioner, v. Harry K. SINGLETARY, Secretary, Department of Corrections, Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, State of Florida, Respondents.
No. 97-0118.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
June 4, 1997.
Wallace Smith, Clermont, pro se.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Patricia Ann Ash, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for respondents.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Petitioner seeks relief alleging that his appellate counsel was ineffective for voluntarily dismissing the plenary appeal filed to challenge a conviction for delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. We grant the petition for writ of habeas corpus and direct that the matter proceed as a belated appeal. The question on appeal shall focus on whether fundamental error exists in connection with the state's failure to present evidence as to an essential element of the crime; namely, the distance between the school and the delivery of cocaine. See generally McKinney v. State, 640 So.2d 1183 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994); Lyon v. State, 591 So.2d 1107 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992); Everett v. State, 579 So.2d 394 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); In Interest of T.M.M., 560 So.2d 805 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990).
Accordingly, as provided by Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(j)(5)(D), this Court's opinion and mandate shall be filed with the lower tribunal and treated as the notice of appeal.
STONE, FARMER and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.