Court Opinion

ID: 4357108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-09 15:04:00.865579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:35.290371
License: Public Domain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                            FOURTH DISTRICT

                          JAMES A. MACHIN,
                             Appellant,

                                    v.

                         STATE OF FLORIDA,
                              Appellee.

                             No. 4D17-2787

                            [January 9, 2019]

  Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, St.
Lucie County; James W. McCann, Judge; L.T. Case No.
562015CF000434AXXXXX.

   Carey Haughwout, Public Defender, and David John McPherrin,
Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.

   Ashley Brooke Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Richard
Valuntas, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

KUNTZ, J.

   James Machin raises four issues in this appeal of his convictions, and
we affirm three without comment. For his fourth issue, Machin argues the
court erred when it failed to hold a hearing to evaluate his competency
after appointing a competency expert. The State agrees that the record
does not contain an order finding Machin competent to proceed and argues
the “the proper course of action under the pertinent case law would be to
remand this case to the trial court to make a nunc pro tunc competency
evaluation.” We agree in part with the State’s recommendation, vacate
Machin’s convictions, and remand for a nunc pro tunc competency
determination if such a determination is possible.

   Before trial, Machin moved for the appointment of an expert to examine
him for competency to proceed. See Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.210(b). The court
granted the motion and appointed an expert who subsequently
recommended the court find Machin competent to proceed. But the record
does not include a transcript of an evidentiary hearing or a written order
finding Machin competent to proceed.
    The failure to hold a hearing or issue a written order finding Machin
competent to proceed requires us to vacate Machin’s convictions because
“competency requires strict adherence to the Florida Rules of Criminal
Procedure 3.210–212.” Dortch v. State, 242 So. 3d 431, 432–33 (Fla. 4th
DCA 2018) (en banc), review granted, No. SC18-681, 2018 WL 3635017
(Fla. July 11, 2018) (citations omitted). “And, once a trial court has
reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal defendant is not competent
to proceed, it has no choice but to conduct a competency hearing.” Monte
v. State, 51 So. 3d 1196, 1202 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (citations omitted).

   After finding reasonable grounds to question competency, a court must:

      1) enter an order appointing experts and scheduling a
         competency hearing;

      2) hold an evidentiary hearing; and

      3) “issue a written order making findings as to the
         competency of the defendant as is specifically required by
         Rule 3.212(b).”

Hawks v. State, 226 So. 3d 892, 894 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).

   Generally, the failure to find a defendant competent after previously
finding reasonable grounds to question his competency would entitle the
defendant to a new trial. Id. (citation omitted). But a retroactive
determination of competency may be possible in this case. See, e.g., id. at
894–95.

   If the court determines a retroactive determination of competency is
possible and finds Machin was competent to proceed, the court must
reinstate the convictions. See id. at 895. But if the court determines a
retroactive competency determination is impossible, the court must
adjudicate his current competency and, if found competent, proceed to a
new trial. See id.; see also Dortch, 242 So. 3d at 433.

   Vacated and remanded for further proceedings.

WARNER and DAMOORGIAN, JJ., concur.

                           *         *        *

   Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

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