Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Terry L. HOLSEY, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2005-08-19
Citations: 908 So. 2d 1159
Docket Number: No. 1D04-3138
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Terry L. HOLSEY, Appellee.
Judges: BARFIELD and LEWIS, JJ. concur; WOLF, J., dissents with written opinion.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 908
Pages: 1159–1162

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Terry L. HOLSEY, Appellee.
No. 1D04-3138.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Aug. 19, 2005.
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, and Daniel A. David, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
Nancy A. Daniels, Public Defender, and Archie F. Gardner, Jr., Assistant Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The state challenges the downward departure sentence imposed following Terry Levon Holsey's entry of an open no contest plea to charges of sale of cocaine and possession of cocaine. The offenses were committed during an undercover drug sting operation; the buyer was an undercover officer. The trial judge gave five grounds for a downward departure sentence. Because we agree with the State that all five grounds given to support the downward departure were improper, we reverse.
The fact that Holsey suffers from addiction to controlled substances is, as the trial judge recognized, specifically excluded as a statutory basis for downward departure. § 921.0026(3), Fla. Stat. (2003). The finding that Holsey was only an accomplice and a relatively minor participant is not supported by competent substantial evidence in the record. That the undercover officer was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident is not a proper ground in this case for downward departure pursuant to section 921.0026(2)(f), Florida Statutes. State v. Grant, 29 Fla. L. Weekly D2722, — So.2d -, 2004 WL 3028212 (Fla. 2d DCA Dec.3, 2004). Regarding downward departure based on prison overcrowding and strained DOC budget, the State correctly notes that no evidence was introduced regarding these factors and the trial judge did not take judicial notice of any type of report or other information to support the reason. Finally, if the State can validly be deemed a victim for purposes of the statutory ground for downward departure, there was no evidence of the "victim's" need for restitution or that a downward departure sentence was necessary in order for restitution to be made. Kirby v. State, 863 So.2d 238 (Fla.2003).
REVERSED and REMANDED.
BARFIELD and LEWIS, JJ. concur; WOLF, J., dissents with written opinion.