Opinion ID: 1715265
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Age as a Mitigating Circumstance

Text: Caballero next argues that the trial court erred in failing to consider age as a mitigating factor. We disagree. The determination of whether age is a mitigating factor depends on the circumstances of each case, and is within the trial court's discretion. Scull v. State, 533 So.2d 1137, 1143 (Fla.1988). Under our review for abuse of discretion, we will uphold the trial court's determination unless it is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, so that no reasonable person would adopt the trial court's view. Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197, 1203 (Fla.1980). This Court has frequently held that a sentencing court may decline to find age as a mitigating factor in cases where the defendants were twenty to twenty-five years old at the time their offenses were committed. See Garcia v. State, 492 So.2d 360, 367 (Fla.1986); Mills v. State, 476 So.2d 172, 179 (Fla. 1985). The court found that Caballero committed the crime at the age of twenty. The court considered Caballero's age in light of the evidence presented, including the results of psychological tests. The court concluded that Caballero did not demonstrate a lack of mental or emotional maturity, nor did Caballero demonstrate that he was unable to take responsibility or appreciate the consequences of his acts. In light of the record below, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by rejecting Caballero's age as a mitigating factor.