Opinion ID: 2649574
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Offense and State Charges

Text: In August 1997, Pace entered the home of his estranged common-law wife, Joice Massa, and shot her with a firearm. At the time of the shooting, other people 2 Case: 12-15414 Date Filed: 01/16/2014 Page: 3 of 18 were also in the home, including Tim and Michelle Spalding, Massa’s thenboyfriend, Monti Andrews, and Massa’s two children with Pace. In September 1997, the State of Florida charged Pace with: (1) attempted first degree murder (of Massa), in violation of Florida Statutes §§ 777.04, 782.04 (Count 1); (2) armed burglary of a dwelling, in violation of Florida Statutes § 810.02(2)(b) (Count 2); (3) aggravated assault (of Andrews) with a firearm, in violation of Florida Statutes § 784.021 (Count 3); and (4) misdemeanor criminal mischief, in violation of Florida Statutes § 806.13(1)(b)(1) (Count 4). Pace faced a maximum life sentence for Counts 1 and 2 and a maximum five-year sentence on Count 3. Under the Florida Sentencing Guidelines, Pace’s guidelines range was 121 to 201.25 months (or 16 years and 9 months) of imprisonment. An assistant public defender, Marie Samuels, represented Pace during pretrial discovery and early plea negotiations. In September 1999, Pace substituted retained counsel, Michael Giordano. The state offered a plea deal of 14 years in prison. Pace counteroffered ten years in prison, which the state rejected. Ultimately, Pace entered an open guilty plea to all four counts at a combined plea and sentencing hearing.