Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. George McKENZIE, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1991-02-07
Citations: 574 So. 2d 1176
Docket Number: No. 89-2006
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. George McKENZIE, Appellee.
Judges: COBB, GOSHORN, HARRIS, PETERSON and DIAMANTIS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 574
Pages: 1176–1182

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. George McKENZIE, Appellee.
No. 89-2006.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Feb. 7, 1991.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Sean Daly, Asst. Atty. Gen., Daytona Beach, for appellant.
Paul J. Dubbeld, Daytona Beach, for ap-pellee.

Opinion:
DAUKSCH, Judge.
Because we find it necessary to recede from the holding in State v. Hall, 538 So.2d 468 (Fla. 5th DCA) rev. denied, 547 So.2d 1211 (Fla.1989), we have considered this case en banc. Fla.R.App.P. 9.331(c).
The issue involves a mandatory minimum sentence for trafficking in cocaine. The trial judge imposed a four year sentence which was within the sentencing guidelines range, but refused to impose the statutorily required three year minimum and the $50,000 fine because he felt Hall precluded him from doing so. We note that Judge Foxman specifically suggested a reconsideration of Hall when he complied with its holding. Hall says a sentencing judge "complied with the mandatory sentencing provisions of § 893.135(1)(b)(1) when he imposed four year sentences" which exceeded the mandatory minimum of three years. We recede from that language and hold that a sentencing judge must comply with both the statutory mandatory minimum sentencing requirements and the sentenc ing guideline requirements when imposing a sentence. So, if the guideline sentence exceeds the mandatory minimum the judge should impose the guideline sentence and specifically require the defendant to serve the minimum.
The sentence is vacated and this cause remanded for resentencing.
SENTENCE VACATED; REMANDED.
COBB, GOSHORN, HARRIS, PETERSON and DIAMANTIS, JJ., concur.
GRIFFIN, J., concurs specially with opinion with which GOSHORN, J., concurs.
W. SHARP, J., dissents with opinion with which COWART, J., concurs.
COWART, J., dissents with opinion with which W. SHARP, J., concurs.