Case Name: Lucy MANIGAULT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1988-12-05
Citations: 534 So. 2d 856
Docket Number: No. 88-640
Parties: Lucy MANIGAULT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: ERVIN, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 534
Pages: 856–861

Head Matter:
Lucy MANIGAULT, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 88-640.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Dec. 5, 1988.
Jefferson W. Morrow, of David, Morrow & Fernande, Jacksonville, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Richard E. Doran, Bureau Chief, Dept, of Legal Affairs, for appellee.

Opinion:
WENTWORTH, Judge.
Appellant seeks review of orders by which her probation was revoked and a sentence imposed for obtaining property in return for a worthless check. We find that the evidence established appellant's violation of her probation, and we conclude that the court was not required to postpone sentencing. We therefore affirm the orders appealed.
After being placed on probation for a worthless check offense appellant was arrested for a subsequent armed robbery. An affidavit was filed alleging that appellant had violated her probation by her participation in the armed robbery. A hearing was held and a robbery detective with the sheriffs office testified that appellant was arrested for the armed robbery pursuant to an arrest warrant. Indicating that he prepared the application for the warrant, the officer stated that the robbery victim had made a police report describing the offense and identifying appellant, who was known to the victim. Appellant did not cross-examine the officer and neither denied her involvement in the offense nor presented any other evidence in this regard.
The court found that appellant's participation in the armed robbery constituted a violation of her probation. Appellant asserts that the evidence was insufficient to establish this offense. Probation may not be revoked merely because a probationer has been arrested for another offense, nor may revocation be based solely upon hearsay. See Purvis v. State, 397 So.2d 746 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981). However, the evidence in the present case is not limited merely to the fact of appellant's arrest. Rather, the testimony detailed the circumstances of appellant's involvement in the armed robbery. And while the evidence was largely hearsay, appellant did not dispute this occurrence through cross-examination, direct evidence, or otherwise. Furthermore, appellant was arrested pursuant to a warrant which was presumably based upon probable cause. The evidence presented in this case was sufficient to permit a finding that appellant violated the terms of her probation by committing an armed robbery.
After the court indicated that it would revoke appellant's probation, counsel for appellant requested that sentencing be postponed. Counsel expressed a desire to further investigate appellant's background and possibly procure witnesses. The court declined to delay sentencing, but allowed appellant the opportunity to present any matter which she wished to offer in mitigation. Appellant made statements in her own behalf, but did not present any other witnesses.
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.720(b) directs the court to entertain a party's "submissions and evidence" at sentencing. The court adhered to this directive in the present case by affording appellant the opportunity to present matters in mitigation. The decision as to whether sentencing should be further delayed is a matter within the court's discretion. See Miller v. State, 435 So.2d 258 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983). Appellant has not shown an abuse of discretion, and the court was entitled to impose sentence without further delay.
The orders appealed are affirmed.
ERVIN, J., concurs.
ZEHMER, J., dissents w/written opinion.
. In State v. Mangam, 343 So.2d 599 (Fla.1977), the Florida Supreme Court stated that:
When a probationer refuses to discuss his compliance or non-compliance with the terms of his probation . this is a factor the judge may consider in a revocation hearing.
The Mangam court concluded that the probationer's silence could serve as confirmation of the violation charged. See also, Hudson v. State, 489 So.2d 808 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986).