Opinion ID: 1929279
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: history of drug abuse mitigator

Text: Morris next argues that the trial court erred in finding that a history of drug abuse is not mitigating. In the trial court's sentencing order, under a section labeled: The defendant began using alcohol and drugs at an early age, and developed a lifelong addiction problem, the court stated: Established and uncontroverted. That the defendant used drugs in the past is not mitigating. Moreover, there is no evidence that he was using drugs in September, 1994 when he murdered Mrs. Livingston. This factor is entitled to little weight. (Emphasis supplied.) In this case, the trial court found as established and uncontroverted that Morris developed a lifelong addiction to drugs and alcohol. Thus, under the facts of this case we agree with Morris that his history of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction is a valid nonstatutory mitigator, and that the defendant does not have to be under the influence of the drugs or alcohol at the time of the murder for this mitigating circumstance to be weighed. See Mahn v. State, 714 So.2d 391, 401 (Fla.1998). Although the trial court's order on this point is confusing, it appears that the trial court did find and weigh the prior history of drug abuse and addiction. Under these circumstances, and considering all of the other aggravation and mitigation in the case that the trial court evaluated, we conclude that any inaccuracy in the trial court's statements is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See Barwick v. State, 660 So.2d 685, 695-96 (Fla.1995).