JAMES BATCH, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 4th DCA | 1981-11-04
No. 79-646
ANSTEAD and HERSEY, JJ., concur.
405 So. 2d 302 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1981) Positive Treatment
Cited by 14 cases

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Synopsis

A minor was convicted of manslaughter (lesser included offense of second degree murder charge) and sentenced as an adult. The appellate court affirmed the conviction but reversed the sentencing, holding that the trial court violated statutory requirements by failing to conduct a predisposition hearing with written findings before imposing adult sanctions and improperly denying the defendant access to the presentence investigation report.


Holding

The appellate court held that: (1) failure to notify parents is not per se controlling but must be considered in the totality of circumstances; appellant's statements were voluntary and properly admitted; (2) no error regarding witness coaching; (3) Section 39.111(6) procedures were mandatory and the trial court violated them by failing to conduct a predisposition hearing and enter written findings before imposing adult sanctions; and (4) all factual information in the presentence investigation report must be disclosed to the defendant a reasonable time before sentencing, and the trial court erred in refusing defense counsel's motion to review the confidential portion.


Headnotes

[1] A juvenile's statements to police are admissible if voluntary under the totality of the circumstances, and failure to notify parents of detention is a factor, but not con…

[2] Procedural statutory changes apply to pending cases, even if the criminal act occurred before the statute's effective date.

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Key Quotes

“notification to the parents of a juvenile's detention is not necessarily related to interrogation. It is merely to advise the parents of the juvenile's whereabouts, and although the lack of notification may, and should be, considered as part of the totality of the circumstances under which statements are made, the failure to notify is not controlling.”

Establishes that failure to notify parents of detention is not per se involuntary but must be considered in totality of circumstances test

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Facts & Procedural History

Appellant, a 16-year-old minor, was in a vehicle with the victim when he waved a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle that accidentally discharged, killing her…

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Opinion of the Court
MOORE, Judge.

MOORE, Judge.

Appellant, a minor, was indicted for second degree murder and tried by a jury. He appeals his conviction and sentence for the lesser included crime of manslaughter. He was sentenced as an adult to the Department of Corrections.

With respect to the conviction, appellant advances two theories for reversal. He initially contends that his conviction was erroneous because the trial court failed to suppress certain recorded statements made by him to the police before they notified his parents of his detention. He argues that Section 39.03(3), Florida Statutes (1977) re quires such notification and that any statements obtained before notification are, per se, involuntary. The appellant also contends that he is entitled to a new trial because a witness’ mother improperly coached the witness during trial testimony. We find no error concerning either point and affirm the conviction. Nevertheless, we will discuss the requirement of notification.

With respect to the appellant’s sentence, he also advances two arguments for reversal. First, he argues that his sentence as an adult violates Section 39.111(6), Florida Statutes (1978 Supp.) which requires a predisposition hearing and written findings of fact, together with the reasons for imposing adult sanctions. Finally, appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to review, prior to sentencing, the confidential portion of the presentence investigation report. We hold that the trial court violated Section 39.111(6) and improperly denied the appellant an opportunity to review any factual information contained in the presentence investigation report.

The appellant and the victim were passengers in an automobile. When the victim became upset with appellant’s advances toward her, he commenced waiving a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle around aimlessly. He claims it accidentally discharged, striking and killing the victim. The appellant took the victim to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. The appellant then telephoned his mother who immediately went to the hospital.1 Appellant and his mother had a brief conversation after which the police took the appellant to the scene of the shooting. The parents, pursuant to advice of the police, went to the Pompano Beach Police Station to wait for their son.

At the scene of the shooting and after being advised of his constitutional rights, the appellant admitted that he accidentally fired the gun, and he assisted the police in locating the gun which he had thrown in the bushes. The police then took the appellant to the police station and commenced taking a statement from him. Upon learning that appellant was 16 years of age, the interrogation ceased and the police transported him to the juvenile detention center. Although the parents were at the police station, no effort was made to put the appellant in contact with them.

At the detention center the police again advised the appellant of his constitutional rights, this time in the presence of a juvenile counsellor, and took a taped statement from him. After obtaining additional evidence, the police took a second taped statement. Again the police advised the appellant of his rights. The record is not clear as to precisely when the appellant requested to speak with his parents, but there is competent evidence showing that he made a request immediately after giving the first statement. The juvenile counsellor then put him in telephone contact with his parents who had remained at the police station.

Appellant argues that all of his oral and written statements should have been suppressed because the police didn’t notify his parents of his detention pursuant to Section 39.03(3), Florida Statutes (1977). We first note that his parents were at the hospital before appellant was in custody and they were told that he was being taken to the police station. Cf., K.L.C. v. State, 379 So. 2d 455 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980) (son arrested at home in presence of parents). Second, notification to the parents of a juvenile’s detention is not necessarily related to interrogation. It is merely to advise the parents of the juvenile’s whereabouts, and although the lack of notification may, and should be, considered as part of the totality of the circumstances under which statements are made, the failure to notify is not controlling. Doerr v. State, 383 So. 2d 905 (Fla.1980). Admission of a juvenile’s statements depends upon their voluntariness considered in the light of the totality of the circumstances. Gallegos v. Colorado, 370 U.S. 49, 82 S.Ct. 1209, 8 L.Ed.2d 325 (1962). We find substantial competent evidence to support the trial court’s finding that appellant gave the statements voluntarily.

Appellant claims that the trial court erred by failing to conduct a predisposition hearing and enter written findings of fact before adult sanctions could be imposed against him as required by Section 39.-111(6), Florida Statutes (1978 Supp.) This section became effective on October 1,1978, which was after appellant’s criminal act but before his trial and sentencing. Nevertheless, the section is procedural and such statutory changes apply to pending cases. Johnson v. State, 371 So. 2d 556 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979). See also McShay v. State, 321 So. 2d 464 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975).

Section 39.116 applies “[w]hen a child has been transferred for criminal prosecution and the child has been found to have committed a violation of Florida law....” The appellant was eligible for consideration under the procedures of Section 39.111(6) because a child charged by indictment is considered transferred to the criminal division of the circuit court from the juvenile division pursuant to Chapter 39, Florida Statutes (1977). See State v. Goodson, 403 So. 2d 1337 (Fla.1981). Furthermore, the provisions of Section 39.111(6) are mandatory. Johnson v. State, supra; Proctor v. State, 373 So. 2d 450 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979). Consequently, the trial court improperly failed to follow the procedures set forth in Section 39.111(6).

All factual information contained in a presentence investigation report (PSI) must be disclosed to a defendant a reasonable time prior to sentencing. Cunningham v. State, 349 So. 2d 702 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977), cert. denied, 362 So. 2d 1052 (Fla.1978); Campbell v. State, 342 So. 2d 1010 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977); Dickens v. State, 368 So. 2d 950 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979). Although we have not been provided with a copy of the PSI in this case, the record discloses that the court refused defense counsel’s motion to review what, if any, factual information was contained in the confidential portion of the PSI. This refusal was erroneous.

Accordingly, the defendant’s conviction is affirmed and this cause is remanded for resentencing in accordance with Section 39.-111(6) and with directions that the trial court review the confidential portion of the PSI and disclose to the defendant, a reasonable time before sentencing, any factual matter that may be contained therein.

AFFIRMED and REMANDED for RE-SENTENCING.

ANSTEAD and HERSEY, JJ., concur. . The testimony of the appellant’s mother and father is conflicting as to whether both parents were at the hospital.


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Cited By

  • State v. Learnhart Rhoden, 448 So. 2d 1013 (Fla. 1984)
    …. 2d 73 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981), and Dunman v. State, 400 So. 2d 838 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981). The district court’s decision is supported by Sawyer v. State, 421 So. 2d 4 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982); Leach v. State, 407 So. 2d 1066 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981); Batch v. State, 405 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981); Proctor v. State, 373 So. 2d 450 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979); and Johnson v. State, 371 So. 2d 556 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979). The state contends that the issue is whether the trial court’s noncompliance with the provisions of section 39.111(6)…
  • State v. Cartwright, 448 So. 2d 1049 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984)
    …39.03(3), Fla.Stat. (1981). It has been established that this statute does not ren [*1051] der the confession of a juvenile, where notice has not been given as provided, inadmissible per se. Doerr v. State, 383 So. 2d 905 (Fla.1980); Batch v. State, 405 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981). The juvenile in this case was arrested together with his stepfather and his mother did not live in the city. Both these factors must be considered by the trial court in making a determination that the confession was rendered ina…
  • Foliage Design Sys., Inc. v. Aurora Fernandez, 589 So. 2d 389 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)
    …st DCA 1984); Union Boiler v. Walker, 461 So. 2d 117 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); City of Tampa v. Fein, 438 So. 2d 442 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983); Rothermel v. Florida Parole and Probation Commission, 441 So. 2d 663 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982); Batch v. State of Florida, 405 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981); Harris v. State of Florida, 400 So. 2d 819 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981); Khoury v. Carvel Homes South, Inc., 403 So. 2d 1043 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981); Okaloosa County Gas District v. Mandel, 394 So. 2d 453 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981); Ship Shape v. T…

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