Case Name: Michael ASBELL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1998-07-16
Citations: 715 So. 2d 258
Docket Number: No. 91078
Parties: Michael ASBELL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
Judges: HARDING, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW, KOGAN and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 715
Pages: 258–259

Head Matter:
Michael ASBELL, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
No. 91078.
Supreme Court of Florida.
July 16, 1998.
James B. Gibson, Public Defender, and Brynn Newton, Assistant Public Defender, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Daytona Beach, for Petitioner.
Robert A. Btitterworth, Attorney General, and Robin A. Compton, Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for Respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We have for review Asbell v. State, 696 So.2d 857 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997), based on conflict with the opinion in White v. State, 689 So.2d 371 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997), quashed, 714 So.2d 440 (Fla.1998), concerning the issue of whether additional sentencing points for carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime may be added to a defendant's sentencing score where the defendant is convicted of carrying a concealed weapon or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const.
We resolved this conflict in White v. State, 714 So.2d 440 (Fla.1998), wherein we held that it is error for the trial court to assess additional sentencing points for possessing a firearm, where the sole underlying crime is carrying a concealed firearm or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In other words, we held that Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.702(d)(12) does not contemplate the addition of sentencing points for carrying or possessing a firearm where the carrying or possession of a firearm is the essential element of the underlying offense. In Asbell, the defendant was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The trial court assessed eighteen additional sentencing points for possessing a firearm during the commission of the possession offense. Under rule 3.702(d)(12) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, additional sentencing points for possession of a firearm may not be assessed against offenses enumerated in section 775.087(2), Florida Statutes (1993). Attempted murder is one of the enumerated offenses in section 775.087(2); therefore, it is not subject to enhancement under rule 3.702. Because attempted murder is not subject to the assessment of additional points for the possession of a firearm, the only remaining offense the trial court could conceivably have considered was petitioner's conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which we found impermissible in White.
Therefore, in accordance with our decision in White, we quash the decision below. We also decline to review petitioner's second point on review as it is beyond the scope of the conflict issue.
It is so ordered.
HARDING, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW, KOGAN and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur.
WELLS, J., dissents with an opinion.
. As his second point on appeal, petitioner argues that the trial court improperly scored his conviction for attempted first-degree murder as a level 10 offense.