Opinion ID: 1882336
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Ex Post Facto Violation in Use of Aggravator

Text: In issue seven, Rose argues that the trial court erred in allowing the State to present evidence of and rely upon the aggravator that the victim was twelve years old pursuant to section 921.141(5)( 1 ), Florida Statutes (1997). He contends that this aggravator was enacted well after the commission of the crime and the trial. Thus, the introduction of this aggravator and consideration by the jury constitutes a violation of ex post facto principles, requiring a new penalty phase or alternatively a reduction of his sentence to life. Below, the State was allowed to argue that the victim of the capital felony was a person less than twelve years of age. § 921.141(5)( l ), Fla. Stat. (1997). Rose unsuccessfully objected to this aggravator on the ground that it was enacted in 1995, well after the crime was committed in 1976, and therefore, its introduction violates ex post facto principles. In fact, soon after Rose's sentencing, we issued State v. Hootman, 709 So.2d 1357, 1360 (Fla.1998), holding, consistent with Rose's arguments at resentencing, that the retroactive application of an aggravator indeed constitutes an ex post facto violation and is therefore impermissible. Immediately after the release of Hootman, Rose filed with the trial court Defendant's Second Motion to Correct Sentencing Error pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b) or Motion for New Sentencing Hearing. After full consideration of the crime, the trial court performed a harmless error analysis and held that in light of the remaining aggravating circumstances, death was still the proper sentence and the invocation of the improper aggravator had had no possible effect on the sentencing proceedings. Recently in Lukehart v. State, 762 So.2d 482, 501 (Fla.2000), we decided a similar issue wherein the Court found that the Legislature, in amending section 921.141(5)(a), Florida Statutes, to include the phrase or on probation, altered the substantive law by adding an entirely new aggravator to be applied upon the defendant. Though we found an ex post facto violation in Lukehart, we applied a harmless error analysis and rejected Lukehart's claim in light of the fact that the jury was already aware that he was on probation when he committed the crime, and in view of the remaining aggravators there. See id.; see also Zack v. State, 753 So.2d 9, 25 (Fla.2000) (finding harmless error in light of remaining aggravators). Much as in Lukehart, the jury here was aware at all times that the victim was eight years old at the time of death. We find no error in the trial court's harmless error analysis.