STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
J. T. S. AND G. R. W., CHILDREN, APPELLEES
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The State of Florida appeals the dismissal of a delinquency petition against two juveniles charged with criminal mischief for rocking a car in a parking lot. The trial court dismissed the petition on the ground that the undisputed facts did not establish willfulness and malice, but the appellate court reversed, holding that intent is a question of fact for the trier of fact, not to be resolved on a motion to dismiss.
The court held that the motion to dismiss must be denied both because the State filed a sworn traverse denying a material fact (which requires automatic denial under Rule 3.190(d)), and because intent is a question of fact for the trier of fact, not a proper subject of determination on a motion to dismiss.
[1] A sworn traverse by the State specifically denying a material fact alleged in a motion to dismiss requires automatic denial of the motion.
[2] Intent, being a state of mind, is generally a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact, not by the court on a motion to dismiss.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Intent is not an issue to be decided on a motion to dismiss under Rule 3.190(c)(4), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, since intent is usually inferred from the acts of the parties and the surrounding circumstances; being a state of mind, intent is a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact, who has the opportunity to observe all of the witnesses.”
Establishes the core legal principle that intent cannot be resolved on a motion to dismiss but must be determined by the trier of fact
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceTwo juveniles, J.T.S. and G.R.W., were alleged to have committed criminal mischief by rocking and moving an automobile. Two deputies testified that th…
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BOARDMAN, Acting Chief Judge.
The ti lal court dismissed the delinquency petition filed against appellees J.T.S. and G.R.W. on the ground that the undisputed facts did not establish a prima facie case against them. We reverse.
Appellees were alleged to have committed criminal mischief, in violation of Section 806.13, Florida Statutes (1977), in that they willfully and maliciously damaged an automobile by “rocking and moving” the car. They filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that their actions were not willful or malicious. The motion alleged that Deputies Wood and Smith of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department had testified that they had seen four juveniles bouncing on and rocking the automobile in question in an effort to turn the car on an angle in its parking space, but that both deputies had indicated that the children’s desire was merely to move the car and not to damage it in any way. The state filed a sworn response to the motion, denying that both deputies had indicated that appellees’ desire was not to damage the car; further denying that the children’s actions were not willful and malicious; and asserting that appellees’ allegation to the contrary was not a fact, but a conclusion.
At the hearing on the motion, Deputy Wood testified that one of the juveniles not involved in this appeal had told him that the boys intended to turn the vehicle sideways in its parking space. No one had told him during the course of his investigation of the incident that the boys’ intent was to damage the car. However, the boys had not indicated to Wood that it was not their intent to damage the car. In the first place, inasmuch as the state filed a traverse specifically denying under oath a material fact alleged in the motion to dismiss, automatic denial of the motion was required. Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.190(d)1; Ellis v. State, 346 So. 2d 1044 (Fla. 1st DCA), cert. denied, 352 So. 2d 175 (Fla.1977); see also State v. Smith, 348 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977).
Even if the state had not traversed appellees’ motion to dismiss, it would have been error for the trial court to grant the motion. The sole basis for the motion was that appellees lacked intent to damage the automobile in question. Intent is not an issue to be decided on a motion to dismiss under Rule 3.190(c)(4), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, since intent is usually inferred from the acts of the parties ánd the surrounding circumstances; being a state of mind, intent is a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact, who has the opportunity to observe all of the witnesses. State v. West, 262 So. 2d 457 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972).
A proceeding under Rule 3.190(c)(4) is the equivalent of a civil summary judgment proceeding, and as stated in State v. West, supra at 458:
The trial court may not try or determine factual issues in a summary judgment proceeding; nor consider either the weight of the conflicting evidence or the credibility of the witnesses in determining whether there exists a genuine issue of material facts; nor substitute itself for the trier of the fact and determine controverted issues of fact.
Accordingly, the order dismissing the delinquency petitions against appellees is REVERSED and the cause REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
SCHEB and OTT, JJ., concur. . Although, this being a juvenile proceeding, the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure are applicable, Rule 8.130(b)(2), Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure provides only generally for the filing of motions to dismiss and implicitly incorporates Rule 3.190(c) and (d). See Com•mittee Note (b)(2).
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Thomson v. State, 398 So. 2d 514 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981)…d his failure to appear for trial to have that effect. Intent, absent a statement thereof or an admission by the accused, which is not present here, must be inferred from the acts of the accused and the surrounding circumstances, State v. J. T. S., 373 So. 2d 418 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979); i. e., it must be established by circumstantial evidence. Where circumstantial evidence alone is relied on to establish the commission of a crime or any essential element thereof, it must be inconsistent with any reasonable hypot…
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State v. Hunwick, 446 So. 2d 214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984)…1983). In a Rule 3.190(c)(4), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, proceeding, the trial court may not try or determine factual issues nor consider either the weight of the conflicting evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. State v. J.T.S., 373 So. 2d 418, 419 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979) (quoting State v. West, 262 So. 2d 457, 458 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972)). In the instant case there is agreement respecting many material facts, but the state denies that Ms. Hunwick never had control of the speed boat nor at least c…
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State v. Casper, 417 So. 2d 263 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982)…’s part to commit the crime. Absent such a showing or allegation, as the case may be, we will have no alternative but to conclude that the accused’s entrapment defense has merit and prevents the conviction for the offense. Citing State v. J. T. S., 373 So. 2d 418 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979), the State argues that the issue of predisposition is not a proper ground upon which to grant a motion to dismiss. For one, we again note with displeasure that this particular argument was never presented in the State’s brief. Sec…
Previewing 3 of 45 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Ellis v. State, 346 So. 2d 1044 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977)
- State v. West, 262 So. 2d 457 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972)
- State v. Smith, 348 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977)