Opinion ID: 78154
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Anton's Status as a Convicted Felon

Text: Anton first argues that the district court erred in concluding that his 1989 plea of nolo contendre to one count of grand theft was a felony conviction. This argument is meritless. What constitutes a conviction ... [is] determined in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held .... 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20). Under Florida law, a `conviction' means adjudication of guilt irrespective of the sentence. Weathers v. State, 56 So.2d 536, 538 (Fla.1952). The Florida Statutes further provide that: [i]f it appears likely to the court upon a hearing of the matter that the defendant is not likely to engage in a criminal course of conduct and that the ends of justice and the welfare of society do not require that the defendant presently suffer the penalty imposed by law, the court, in its discretion, may either adjudge the defendant to be guilty or stay and withhold the adjudication of guilt; and in either case, it shall stay and withhold the imposition of sentence upon such defendant and place the defendant upon probation. Fla. Stat. ch. 948.01(2). We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo. United States v. Johnson, 399 F.3d 1297, 1298 (11th Cir. 2005). Under Florida Statute 948.01(2), the district court has the discretionary authority to withhold the adjudication of guilt. Sanchez v. State, 541 So.2d 1140, 1141 (Fla.1989). This decision is of vital importance as a plea of nolo contendre is not a felony conviction if the adjudication of guilt has been withheld. United States v. Willis, 106 F.3d 966, 967-68 (11th Cir. 1997). However, a nolo contendre plea where adjudication is not withheld or where there is subsequently an adjudication of guilt is a conviction .... United States v. Drayton, 113 F.3d 1191, 1193 (11th Cir.1997). In arguing his motion to dismiss, Anton conceded that he had been adjudicated guilty. Anton now cites several cases in support of his argument that an individual given a suspended sentence is not a convicted felon upon completion of the probationary term. See, e.g., Page v. State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 141 Fla. 294, 193 So. 82 (1940); Smith v. State, 75 Fla. 468, 78 So. 530 (1918). However, none of these cases involved an adjudication of guilt and therefore are inapposite. As the district judge adjudicated Anton's guilt in its 1989 order, Anton's nolo contendre plea is a conviction under Florida law. Accordingly, the district court did not err in concluding that Anton was a convicted felon for the purposes of § 922(g).