Court Opinion

ID: 9365930
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-25 16:03:33.519576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:47.727689
License: Public Domain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                              FOURTH DISTRICT

                     CHARLES W. RANDOLPH, JR.,
                             Appellant,

                                      v.

                           STATE OF FLORIDA,
                                Appellee.

                              No. 4D21-3052

                            [January 25, 2023]

  Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, St.
Lucie County; Lawrence Michael Mirman, Judge; L.T. Case No. 56-2018-
CF-003027-A.

   Carey Haughwout, Public Defender, and Robert Porter, Assistant Public
Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.

   Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Paul Patti, III,
Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

CONNER, J.

    Charles W. Randolph, Jr. (“Defendant”) appeals the order revoking his
probation and the judgment and sentence imposed after he admitted
violating one condition of probation and waived a hearing on additional
alleged new law violations. Defendant argues the trial court improperly
considered evidence of the new crimes in revoking probation and imposing
sentence. After determining that the bright-line rule announced in Norvil
v. State, 191 So. 3d 406 (Fla. 2016), does not apply to violation of probation
(“VOP”) proceedings, and the errors alleged by Defendant were invited, we
affirm the trial court.

                                Background

    In 2018, Defendant entered a negotiated plea of no contest to one
firearm offense and nine drug-related offenses. He was sentenced to
prison, followed by probation. Soon after his release from prison, a VOP
affidavit was filed, alleging Defendant violated condition 2 of the probation
order by failing to pay cost of supervision; condition 5 by failing to live
without violating any law; condition 7 by unlawfully possessing drugs; and
condition 10 by failing to pay court costs. Regarding condition 5,
Defendant was alleged to have committed eleven new crimes. Defendant
was arrested for VOP while in jail after his arrest on the new crimes.

    At the time of his VOP hearing, Defendant was represented by two
attorneys: one for the VOP, and another for the new crimes. The state
made a plea offer that would resolve the VOP case and all the new crimes.
Defendant rejected the offer, but rather than proceed with a VOP trial,
Defendant entered an open plea admitting he violated condition 2 (failure
to pay cost of supervision) only. After the state alerted the trial court that
it wanted to “address the issue of [Defendant] admitting only as it relates
to the condition 2,” the state and VOP counsel discussed how they would
proceed in light of Defendant admitting only a violation of condition 2:

      State: I think [Defendant] can … argue to the Court why he
      wasn’t in violation of all of those [other alleged violations]. …
      I am still going to be presenting evidence and argument related
      to all of the other violations. …

      ….

      VOP counsel:      I understand … [H]e’s pleaing [sic] to the
      condition 2.

      Court: Mm hmm. (Phonetic.)

      VOP counsel: Not to the new crime related issues because
      [Defendant is] contesting them. I’m only gonna address
      condition 2.      The State if they wanna describe and
      (indiscernible) entwine facts I don’t think I can stop [that].

      Court: Mm hmm. (Phonetic.)

      VOP counsel: Uh, but as long as, Your Honor, makes a
      ruling, and (indiscernible) in violation of condition 2 and not
      the additional … it’ll be a legal proceeding.

      State: I think we’re gonna be having a VOP hearing …

      Court: Right. I think so. I think the State turns out to be
      right there. … [Defendant] doesn’t wanna go forward with a
      hearing cause he’s admitting that the State can prove by the
      greater weight of the evidence condition 2. It’s sort of like a

                                      2
      no contest plea, but for sentencing purposes the State could
      still rely on everything else in the affidavit … for argument
      purposes in that regard. I mean a violation is a violation. …
      [S]o he can’t limit you by his plea to … arguments for
      sentencing. I think that’s the situation.

      VOP counsel: Yes Judge.

      ….

      Court: … [Defendant] doesn’t [want to] have the hearing
      cause he realizes he’s gonna lose the hearing as far as
      condition 2, but he’s not conceding that he violated the other
      ones, but that won’t preclude the State from being able to say,
      you know, these are already also alleged, and the Court can
      rely on … [these] because he can’t limit … [the State] in that
      regard.

      VOP counsel: Yeah, I explained to him, Judge that … even if
      these charges were dismissed he could still be held
      accountable for them on violation of probation. … [I]t’s
      strategically better for him not to resolve all the cases at once
      cause the score’s lower. So, he’s just gonna belly up on
      condition 2 ….

(emphasis added).

   The parties then discussed the calculation of Defendant’s scoresheet
for only the VOP. After conferring with VOP counsel off record regarding
the possible sentences with the VOP and his new charges, on the record
Defendant confirmed he wanted to proceed with his original plan to reject
the State’s offer to resolve all of the VOPs and new charges together and
proceed with a plea only as to condition 2. The trial court acknowledged
Defendant’s decision and proceeded only with the VOP as to condition 2.
The trial court again addressed Defendant as to how the case would
proceed:

      Court: Okay. So, you’re entering an open plea admitting to
      the violation. I realize you’re admitting one condition, but as
      I mentioned before … if you violated, you violated, and then
      the only issue is what’s the appropriate sentence.           I’ll
      determine that. Nobody knows, especially me, what I’m gonna
      do. … [A]nd the parameters, the limitations for me, are the
      ScoreSheet parameters which are legal sentence absent a

                                     3
      departure would be 21.05 months to 50 years.             Do you
      understand that?

      Defendant: Yes sir.

      Court: Okay. So, the only rights you’re giving up are the right
      to a hearing, and you’re giving up that right to hearing as to the
      violation because you and your lawyer discussed at a
      minimum as condition 2 you’re not contesting that the State
      could prove that so let’s proceed to sentencing and discuss
      what an appropriate sentence is. You understand that?

      Defendant: Yes sir.

(emphasis added).

   After accepting the VOP admission as to condition 2, the trial court
proceeded to sentencing. The state introduced physical evidence and
testimony of a detective who participated in executing two recorded
controlled buys for drugs and a firearm between a confidential informant
and Defendant. The state also presented evidence that Defendant
possessed firearms. Additionally, the state presented evidence of the
search of the residence where the controlled buys occurred and of
Defendant’s arrest for the controlled buys.

   VOP counsel cross-examined the detective, focusing on the fact that
Defendant was not present during the search of the residence and the
drugs in the residence were not on Defendant’s person. When the trial
court offered VOP counsel the opportunity to present evidence, VOP
counsel declined.

   The evidence presented for sentencing addressed only the controlled
purchases, possession of a firearm, the search of the residence, and
Defendant’s arrest.     Nothing was presented regarding violation of
conditions 2 or 10. VOP counsel raised no objection to the evidence
presented by the state or to the course of the proceedings.

   After sentencing, Defendant gave notice of appeal.

                             Appellate Analysis

   Defendant claims the trial court fundamentally erred in denying him
due process during his VOP hearing and sentencing in two respects. First,
Defendant argues that the trial court denied him due process in failing to

                                      4
hold a violation hearing on the unadmitted alleged VOPs, as required
under the applicable statute, and, instead, the trial court accepted his
admission as to violation of one condition and proceeded to sentencing
without addressing the other alleged violations. Second, Defendant argues
that the trial court denied him due process by considering evidence of the
unadmitted alleged violations during the sentencing hearing, asserting
such evidence was an impermissible sentencing factor. Because the
challenges were not preserved below, Defendant claims fundamental error
and seeks a new violation hearing before a different judge.

    In terms of entitlement to a new VOP hearing, fundamental error is one
that “reach[es] down into the validity of the trial itself to the extent that a
[finding of guilt] could not have been obtained without the assistance of
the alleged error.” Milanes v. State, 296 So. 3d 933, 937 (Fla. 4th DCA
2020) (quoting Harrell v. State, 894 So. 2d 935, 941 (Fla. 2005)). We have
noted that “[t]he doctrine of fundamental error must be exercised
cautiously and rarely.” Id.

   Our supreme court has explained what may constitute fundamental
error in sentencing as follows:

      [I]n order to be considered fundamental, an error must be
      serious. In determining the seriousness of an error, the
      inquiry must focus on the nature of the error, its qualitative
      effect on the sentencing process and its quantitative effect on
      the sentence. See [Bain v. State, 730 So. 2d 296, 304–05 (Fla.
      2d DCA 1999)]. In most cases, a fundamental sentencing
      error will be one that affects the determination of the length
      of the sentence such that the interests of justice will not be
      served if the error remains uncorrected.

      ....

         Thus, an error that improperly extends the defendant’s
         incarceration or supervision likely would impress us as
         fundamental.

Maddox v. State, 760 So. 2d 89, 99–100 (Fla. 2000) (quoting Bain, 730 So.
2d at 305). Further, “[a] trial court’s consideration of improper factors in
sentencing constitutes a denial of due process,” which amounts to
fundamental error. Turner v. State, 261 So. 3d 729, 737–38 (Fla. 2d DCA
2018); see also Hillary v. State, 232 So. 3d 3, 4 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).

                                      5
   We review de novo whether a trial court provided due process. Hill v.
State, 246 So. 3d 392, 394 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018). We also review de novo
whether a trial court relied on impermissible factors in sentencing in
violation of a defendant’s due process rights. Charles v. State, 204 So. 3d
63, 66 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016).

    Addressing an alleged VOP is a two-step process in which the trial court
first determines whether, by a preponderance of the evidence, the
defendant willfully and substantially violated a condition of probation (the
violation phase) and then, second, whether probation should be revoked
(the sentencing phase). Milanes, 296 So. 3d at 937. To satisfy due
process, a defendant must be provided an opportunity to be heard on two
issues: “(1) whether defendant has violated a condition of probation, and
(2) what sentence should be imposed. This hearing may be informal in
nature, but there must be a reasonable opportunity to be heard.”
Harrington v. State, 238 So. 3d 294, 299 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018).

Unadmitted VOP Allegations

    Defendant contends that the trial court denied him due process in
failing to hold a violation hearing on the other alleged VOPs which he did
not admit. The state responds that the issue of whether Defendant
committed a VOP was settled by his admission to one of the allegations
and the issue is not properly before this court. Additionally, the state
maintains that this appeal would not entitle Defendant to a new violation
hearing because his admission to condition 2 remains unchallenged and
was not withdrawn.

   Section 948.06(2), Florida Statutes (2021), which guides VOP
proceedings, provides in part:

      (d) If such charge is not at that time admitted by the
      probationer or offender and if it is not dismissed, the court, as
      soon as may be practicable, shall give the probationer or
      offender an opportunity to be fully heard on his or her behalf
      in person or by counsel.

      (e) After such hearing, the court may revoke, modify, or
      continue the probation or community control or place the
      probationer into community control. If such probation or
      community control is revoked, the court shall adjudge the
      probationer or offender guilty of the offense charged and
      proven or admitted, unless he or she has previously been
      adjudged guilty, and impose any sentence which it might have

                                     6
      originally imposed before placing the probationer or offender
      on probation or into community control.

§ 948.06(2)(d)–(e), Fla. Stat. (2021).

    Finding a VOP requires the state to prove a defendant willfully and
substantially violated the terms of his or her probation by a preponderance
of the evidence. Mata v. State, 31 So. 3d 257, 259 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010).
“A trial court is authorized to revoke probation based on a single violation
of probation alone.” McDoughall v. State, 133 So. 3d 1097, 1100 (Fla. 4th
DCA 2014) (quoting Whitehead v. State, 22 So. 3d 846, 847-48 (Fla. 4th
DCA 2009)). Where an affidavit of VOP alleges multiple violations, the
state is not required to proceed on every allegation of VOP presented in the
affidavit, as the state may abandon some allegations. See, e.g., D.M.B. v.
State, 254 So. 3d 448, 450 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018) (“During the final probation
violation hearing, . . . the state abandoned all other allegations of probation
violation and proceeded only on the loitering or prowling charge.”); Jones
v. State, 117 So. 3d 818, 820 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013) (“At the violation hearing,
the State abandoned all allegations of violation except for k.4.”). The state
is also not required to prove every VOP allegation in an affidavit to support
revocation, as a revocation of probation can be affirmed even where there
is insufficient evidence of a trial court’s findings as to VOP for some
allegations, when “it is clear from the record that the trial court would have
revoked probation and imposed the same sentence based solely upon the
remaining [allegations.]” Mata, 31 So. 3d at 260.

   The issue as presented by Defendant invites the question of what
happens to the remaining unadmitted allegations of VOP when no attempt
was made to prove them at a violation hearing and those violations were
not admitted, dismissed, or reserved to be addressed at a later time. While
we have not found an answer to this unique question, we determine any
error regarding the unresolved allegations was invited by Defendant. See
Czubak v. State, 570 So. 2d 925, 928 (Fla. 1990) (“Under the invited-error
doctrine, a party may not make or invite error at trial and then take
advantage of the error on appeal.”).

   Defendant knowingly and strategically desired not to have a violation
hearing on the new crime allegations. From the outset of the hearing, the
state made it clear that it was going to address additional allegations in
the VOP affidavit other than the specific technical violation which
Defendant was admitting. VOP counsel did not contest the state’s
announced course of action and specifically told the trial court that “as
long as, Your Honor, makes a ruling, and (indiscernible) in violation of
condition 2 and not the additional … it’ll be a legal proceeding.”

                                         7
   Later in the hearing, in summarizing the situation at the plea phase,
the trial court recognized Defendant’s desire not to concede the
unadmitted allegations and twice explained that, although Defendant did
not want to proceed with a hearing to prove the other allegations, the plea
to one technical violation did not preclude the state from relying on the
remaining allegations in the affidavit for sentencing. Both times, VOP
counsel responded affirmatively and agreed with the trial court.

    Then, when discussing Defendant’s rejection of the state’s offer to
resolve both the VOPs and the new crime charges, VOP counsel stated:
“[I]t’s strategically better for him not to resolve all the cases at once cause
the score’s lower. So, he’s just gonna belly up on condition 2 ….” Before
proceeding to sentencing, the trial court again explained that Defendant
was “giving up that right to hearing as to the violation because you and
your lawyer discussed at a minimum as condition 2 you’re not contesting
that the State could prove that,” to which Defendant affirmatively
responded he understood.

    Defendant’s strategy was made further clear in VOP counsel’s closing
arguments when counsel said: “Judge, my client’s taking responsibility for
condition 2 in this case. … [W]ithout going too far field [sic] into the other
allegations, Judge, I think there are some … viable defense issues that I’m
not responsible for ….”

    Based on the above, we are satisfied that Defendant strategically
wanted to admit only a technical violation and not have a violation hearing
to address the new crime violations. Waiver of the right to a violation
hearing was explained to Defendant and he stated he understood. As
such, Defendant knowingly declined a further violation hearing. Due
process was satisfied because Defendant was given a full and fair
opportunity to be heard on the VOP allegations against him before
sentencing, even though he waived that right. See Harrington, 238 So. 3d
at 299. Therefore, where Defendant strategically proceeded on only one
technical violation and acknowledged both that he was waiving a hearing
and that the State would proceed with evidence regarding the unadmitted
allegations in the sentencing phase, any error in not having a violation
hearing on the unadmitted allegations was invited error. Thus, we affirm
the trial court on this issue.

Sentencing Phase

   “[W]here the court has sentencing discretion, [a] probationer must have
an opportunity to present mitigating evidence and argue for sentencing

                                      8
alternatives.” Id. at 299 (summarizing a holding of Black v. Romano, 471
U.S. 606, 614, 105 S.Ct. 2254, 85 L.Ed.2d 636 (1985)). “A sentence within
the statutory limits is generally not subject to appellate review. An
exception to this rule exists when a sentencing court considers
constitutionally impermissible sentencing factors.” Bevans v. State, 291
So. 3d 591, 593 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020) (citation omitted). “Ordinarily, when
the trial court allegedly relies on improper sentencing considerations, the
State must demonstrate that the trial court’s sentencing decision was not
so influenced.” Turner, 261 So. 3d at 734.

    Impermissible sentencing factors include “‘unsubstantiated allegations
of misconduct’ and ‘unsupported speculations.’” Mirutil v. State, 30 So. 3d
588, 590 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010) (quoting Reese v. State, 639 So. 2d 1067,
1068 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994)). Defendant’s argument that the trial court erred
in imposing the VOP sentence in this case relies heavily on the bright-line
rule announced by our supreme court in Norvil: “[A] trial court may not
consider a subsequent arrest without conviction during sentencing for the
primary offense.” 191 So. 3d at 410. As discussed below, the bright-line
rule applies to the initial sentencing on a charge and not to VOP
proceedings.

    Defendant relies on Norvil’s bright-line rule to equate consideration of
subsequent arrests without conviction during VOP sentencing with the
improper consideration of such arrests in the context of sentencing on a
new law violation for which a defendant is placed on probation. Defendant
also supports the argument by citing our decision in Garcia v. State, 279
So. 3d 148 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019). In Garcia, we applied Norvil’s principles
and found fundamental error based on a due process violation where the
trial court considered the defendant’s uncharged misconduct while out on
bond at sentencing. Id. at 149–51. However, recently, our supreme court
quashed our decision in State v. Garcia, 346 So. 3d 581 (Fla. 2022),
holding no fundamental error occurred in the trial court sentencing the
defendant at the lower end of the sentencing range where the “sentencing
judge gave no indication of having given weight to any arrest or charge
supported merely by probable cause” and, in addition to the challenged
impermissible evidence, the trial court heard evidence of the defendant’s
prior convictions and dangerous actions surrounding the primary offense.
Id. at 586–87.

    We continue to agree with the distinction made by the Second District
in Turner between Norvil’s bright-line rule for impermissible sentencing
factors regarding sentencing for new law violations and what is permissible
for consideration in the context of sentencing for VOPs. 261 So. 3d at 738.

                                     9
    In Turner, the defendant admitted to each of the alleged VOPs, which
included several technical violations and several new law violations. Id. at
732–33. The defendant’s criminal charges on the new law violations were
still pending at the time of his VOP sentencing. Id. at 734. At his VOP
sentencing hearing, the trial court heard several witnesses’ testimony
about the aggravated nature of the new law violations. Id. at 733. The
trial court noted its revocation of community control and sentencing the
defendant to life in prison was based on several factors, including
“everything I’ve heard today.” Id.

    On appeal, the defendant argued that “because he admitted to the [new
law] violations, there was no evidentiary hearing held to prove the new law
violations by the greater weight of the evidence” and that “he did not admit
guilt as to any of the new pending charges; rather, he only admitted a new
law violation as he was only arrested for those charges.” Id. at 734
(internal quotations omitted). In rejecting the defendant’s argument, the
Second District reasoned:

          A trial court’s decision to revoke community control is
      informed properly by a complete understanding of the
      controlee’s behavior while serving community control. In our
      view, the arrest stemming from a new law violation is
      incidental to the conduct precipitating the arrest. Thus, the
      trial court’s consideration of such conduct, in the context of a
      community control violation hearing, is proper. Our conclusion
      is buttressed by the unique considerations and procedures
      attendant to community control revocation hearings.

         ....

          After [the defendant] admitted to violating community
      control, the trial court had to consider whether to revoke,
      modify, or continue community control. See § 948.06(1)[, Fla.
      Stat]. This decision is, itself, a separate process from the
      violation stage of the hearing. The trial court’s decision to
      revoke community control necessarily contemplates that the
      decision will be fully informed. After all, “[d]ue process
      envisions a law that hears before it condemns, proceeds upon
      inquiry, and renders judgment only after proper consideration
      of issues advanced by adversarial parties.” Scull v. State, 569
      So. 2d 1251, 1252 (Fla. 1990).

         The trial court’s decision whether to revoke community
      control involves a discretionary determination as to whether the

                                    10
      violation justifies revocation. As we stated more than fifty
      years ago, “the purpose [of a probation violation hearing] is to
      determine if good behavior has been tainted by bad conduct. It
      is true that the probation conditions are often broad and can
      easily be broken but it is only by grace that freedom is enjoyed
      in the first place.” Bowen v. State, 229 So. 2d 272, 274 (Fla.
      2d DCA 1969) (quoting McNeely v. State, 186 So. 2d 520, 524
      (Fla. 2d DCA 1966)). Consequently, the trial court must ask
      whether the controlee’s behavior, while on community control,
      justifies revocation.

         ....

         [Defendant] correctly contends that “a trial court may not
      consider a subsequent arrest without conviction during
      sentencing for the primary offense.” See Norvil, 191 So. 3d at
      407.

          Be that as it may, sentencing and the attendant
      considerations at a revocation hearing are different. . . . [T]he
      trial court did not improperly rely on the pending charges
      resulting from [the defendant’s] subsequent arrest, but,
      rather, on his conduct that violated his community control.
      After all, “[w]hen a greater sentence is imposed upon the
      revocation of probation, it can be based upon the defendant’s
      subsequent conduct demonstrating his lack of amenability to
      reform.” Williams v. Wainwright, 650 F.2d 58, 61 (5th Cir.
      1981).

Id. at 735–38 (third, fourth, and seventh alterations in original) (emphasis
added) (citations omitted).

   In determining whether to revoke probation, we agree with the Second
District that the trial court’s focus is on the grace which has been extended
to the offender to show amenability to reform while on probation and
whether “good behavior has been tainted by bad conduct.” Id. at 737
(Bowen, 229 So. 2d at 274). As noted in Turner, “[a] trial court’s decision
to revoke community control is informed properly by a complete
understanding of the controlee’s behavior while serving community
control” and “it can be based upon the defendant’s subsequent conduct
demonstrating his lack of amenability to reform.” Id. at 736, 738 (quoting
Williams, 650 F.2d at 61); see also Bevans, 291 So. 3d at 593.

                                     11
   With the present case, in addition to admission of a technical violation,
the state’s evidence at the sentencing hearing revealed Defendant’s
conduct during probation to be without regard for the grace given to him
as a probationer. The state presented evidence that he became involved
in the sale of drugs, possessed a firearm, and fled from officers in a
dangerous manner. If the state was limited to evidence just on the
technical violation, then the trial court would have an incomplete picture
of whether Defendant was amendable to reform.

    We previously have cited Turner with approval in Bevans. In Bevans,
after the state proved new law violations, at sentencing, the trial court
noted that it considered the fact that the defendant had been on probation
less than seven days before having committed new law violations. 291 So.
3d at 592–93. On appeal, the defendant argued that the trial court
impermissibly considered the short time period in which he committed
new crimes after being placed on probation. Id. at 593. We affirmed,
stating “the trial court properly considered that the violations of probation
occurred so quickly after the imposition of probation, demonstrating
appellant’s inability to abide by the law for even a short period of time.” Id.
To support our conclusion, we cited Turner for the propositions that “the
trial court may consider the new crimes a defendant committed because
he violated his probation by doing so” and that, “[w]hen a greater sentence
is imposed upon the revocation of probation, it can be based upon the
defendant’s subsequent conduct demonstrating his lack of amenability to
reform.” Id. (quoting Turner, 261 So. 3d at 738).

   We acknowledge that in Turner, the defendant admitted to the new law
violations. 261 So. 3d at 733. Additionally, in Turner, the applicable
sentencing law allowed consideration of new community sanction
violations to prepare the scoresheet, making it proper for the court to
consider the new law violations for that reason alone. Id. at 738–39. While
Turner is factually distinguishable on some points, the rationale as to
Norvil’s inapplicability to VOP sentencing and the primary emphasis on
ensuring the sentencing court has a complete understanding of a
defendant’s behavior relating to amenability to reform in order to decide
whether to revoke probation remain applicable to a determination of the
issues in the present case and support affirmance. Id. at 735–38.

   Thus, we hold that the trial court properly considered evidence of
Defendant’s conduct during probation, including facts and conduct not
directly related to the actual admitted violation, to have a complete picture
of Defendant’s amenability to reform in determining whether to revoke
probation and impose a further sentence for the crimes for which
Defendant was placed on probation. The state did not have to prove

                                      12
additional new law violations to support revocation of Defendant’s
probation because Defendant freely and voluntarily admitted to violating
condition 2. The state’s purpose in presenting evidence of the new law
violations was to establish Defendant’s conduct while on probation
showing lack of amenability to reform.

    Additionally, we affirm because Defendant invited error. Defendant was
fully aware that evidence of the new law violations would be utilized by the
state at sentencing. When the state expressly stated it would be
presenting such evidence, defense counsel did not object, and even agreed
it would be a “legal proceeding.” Defendant had a full and fair opportunity
to respond with his own evidence regarding the alleged new crimes, but he
chose only to cross-examine the detective, which focused on execution of
the search warrant of the residence. Defendant did not offer any evidence
to counter the detective’s testimony or the other evidence presented.
Allowing Defendant’s position to stand—that he can admit to only a single
technical violation and then not allow the state to present evidence of any
other VOP allegation to give the trial court a complete picture of the
defendant’s conduct on probation through evidence (i.e., substantiated
facts)—would undermine the well-settled law that one violation, even a
single technical violation, is sufficient to revoke probation and sentence
anywhere in the guidelines. See § 948.06(2), Fla. Stat. (2021); McDoughall,
133 So. 3d at 1100. 1

                                   Conclusion

   Having determined the trial court committed no error, including
fundamental error, we affirm the revocation of Defendant’s probation and
the sentence imposed thereafter.

    Affirmed.

GROSS and LEVINE, JJ., concur.

                              *         *         *

    Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

1We also apply the reasoning of our supreme court in Garcia, that consideration
of new law violations cannot be considered fundamental error where “[t]he
sentencing judge gave no indication of having given weight to any arrest or charge
supported merely by probable cause.” 346 So. 3d at 586.

                                       13