Opinion ID: 1727284
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sentences Exceeding the Statutory Maximum

Text: In Leonard v. State, 731 So.2d 2 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998), review granted, 719 So.2d 287 (Fla.1998) (Case No. 93,332), the defendant pleaded nolo contendere to a violation of probation and was sentenced to a term of thirty years' imprisonment when the statutory maximum for the second-degree felony was fifteen years. This type of sentencing error results in a sentence in excess of the statutory maximum, generally referred to as the prototype illegal sentence. [9] See Bain, 730 So.2d at 305; Nelson, 719 So.2d at 1232-33; Harriel v. State, 710 So.2d 102, 104 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998). As the First District reasoned, The extraordinary provision made for remedying illegal sentences evidences the utmost importance of correcting such errors, even at the expense of legal principles that might preclude relief from trial court errors of less consequence. Sanders v. State, 698 So.2d 377, 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997); see Nelson, 719 So.2d at 1232. Thus, even where the defendant has pleaded guilty, the trial court may not impose a sentence exceeding the statutory maximum. See King v. State, 681 So.2d 1136, 1140 (Fla. 1996); Williams v. State, 500 So.2d 501, 503 (Fla.1986). With the exception of the Fifth District, the district courts are in accord that this type of patent and serious sentencing error, which has a quantitative impact on the length of sentence served by the defendant, should be corrected on direct appeal as fundamental error. See, e.g., Bain, 730 So.2d at 305; Jordan, 728 So.2d at 750; Nelson, 719 So.2d at 1232; Harriel, 710 So.2d at 104. We agree with these courts that an unpreserved error resulting in a sentence in excess of the statutory maximum should be corrected on direct appeal as fundamental error. [10]