Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Richard WISHHART, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1999-07-30
Citations: 738 So. 2d 1004
Docket Number: No. 98-02845
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Richard WISHHART, Appellee.
Judges: CAMPBELL, A.C.J., and SALCINES, J., Concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 738
Pages: 1004–1004

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Richard WISHHART, Appellee.
No. 98-02845.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
July 30, 1999.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Dale E. Tarpley, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellant.
Robert A. Miller, St. Petersburg, for Appellee.

Opinion:
NORTHCUTT, Judge.
The State challenges the circuit court's decision to impose a downward departure sentence after Richard Wishhart pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges. We note that the court never really stated any reasons for the departure, either on the record at the hearing or in its written order. While we may affirm a downward departure sentence when the court fails to enter written reasons but has announced valid reasons at sentencing, we must reverse when it gives no reasons at all. Cf. Pease v. State, 712 So.2d 374 (Fla.1997).
Wishhart has suggested several hypotheses to explain why the court might have decided to depart from the guidelines. We have reviewed his suggestions and find them to have no merit. We reverse and remand for resentencing pursuant to the guidelines.
CAMPBELL, A.C.J., and SALCINES, J., Concur.