Opinion ID: 1107651
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The VCC and the Forcible Felony Statutes

Text: The violent career criminal statute, section 775.084(1)(d), Florida Statutes (2000), is intended to deter recidivism by imposing longer sentences on repeat offenders. [T]o be sentenced as a violent career criminal, a defendant must have been previously incarcerated in state or federal prison, must have been convicted three times as an adult of certain violent felonies (listed in the statute), and must have committed another such offense within the above time frame. Clines v. State, 912 So.2d 550, 553 (Fla.2005). The felonies that qualify for designation as a violent career criminal are: a. Any forcible felony, as described in s. 776.08; b. Aggravated stalking . . . c. Aggravated child abuse . . . d. Aggravated abuse of an elderly person . . . e. Lewd, lascivious, or indecent conduct . . . f. Escape . . . g. A felony violation of chapter 790 involving the use or possession of a firearm. § 775.084(1)(d)(1) (emphasis added). The statute does not specifically list BOLEO, or even battery, as a qualifying offense. Therefore, that crime qualifies only under the catchall provision in subsection (a), and only if it constitutes a forcible felony, as described in section 776.08, Florida Statutes (2000). That section defines forcible felony as treason; murder; manslaughter; sexual battery; carjacking; home-invasion robbery; robbery; burglary; arson; kidnapping; aggravated assault; aggravated battery; aggravated stalking; aircraft piracy; unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb; and any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual. § 776.08, Fla. Stat. (2000) (emphasis added). Again, although that section does list some types of battery (sexual battery and aggravated battery), it does not mention BOLEO. Therefore, for BOLEO to qualify as a forcible felony it must fall within the meaning of the catchall clause of the statuteany other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual. Id. As noted above, by definition BOLEO is a simple battery committed on a law enforcement officer. Under section 784.03, a battery is committed by (a) actually and intentionally touching or striking another person against the will of the other, which may, but need not, involve the use or threat of physical force or violence; or (b) intentionally causing bodily harm, which definitely would involve the use or threat of physical force or violence. Therefore, BOLEO may or may not be a forcible felony, depending on the circumstances.