JOHNNIE B. STUBBS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 1st DCA | 1985-06-06
No. AZ-388
MILLS and NIMMONS, JJ., and PEARSON, TILLMAN (Ret.), Associate Judge, concur.
470 So. 2d 768 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (1985) Negative Treatment
Cited by 4 cases

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Synopsis

Appellant Stubbs appealed a 30-month sentence imposed after probation revocation for cannabis possession, contending the trial court improperly relied on a retroactively inapplicable rule to elevate his sentence without written justification. The court vacated the sentence and remanded for resentencing under the guidelines in effect at the time of revocation, requiring written reasons if the court departs from the recommended sentence.


Holding

Rule 3.701(d)(14) cannot be retroactively applied to sentencings following probation revocations that occurred before the rule's July 1, 1984 effective date. Although violation of probation is a permissible reason for departure from guidelines, the trial court must state such reasons in writing. The sentence was vacated and the case remanded for resentencing under the guidelines in effect on April 13, 1984.


Headnotes

[1] A rule of criminal procedure cannot be retroactively applied if it was amended after the offense occurred.

[2] A violation of probation is a permissible reason for departure from sentencing guidelines, but the trial court must state the reason in writing.

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Key Quotes

“Rule 3.701(d)(14) was added by amendment on May 14, 1984, and became effective on July 1, 1984. Rule 3.701(d)(14) cannot be retroactively applied.”

Establishes the core holding that the rule at issue cannot be applied retroactively to sentencings occurring before its effective date.

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Facts & Procedural History

On September 18, 1979, Stubbs pleaded guilty to possession of more than five grams of cannabis and was placed on five years of probation. On April 13,…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant appeals from a 30-month sentence for possession of more than five grams of cannabis. He contends that the trial court erred in relying on Rule 3.701(d)(14), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, to elevate his sentence to the next higher guidelines cell without providing a reason for departure.1

On September 18,1979, appellant entered a guilty plea to the offense of possession of more than five grams of cannabis and was placed on five years of probation. On April 13, 1984, his probation was revoked, and appellant elected to be sentenced under the sentencing guidelines. Although the guidelines recommended sentence was any nonstate prison sanction, all the parties below thought that the appellant’s sentence could be increased to the next higher cell on the basis of his probation revocation, pursuant to Rule 3.701(d)(14), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Appellant received the maximum sentence of 30 months of incarceration under the next higher cell.

Rule 3.701(d)(14) was added by amendment on May 14, 1984, and became effective on July 1, 1984. Rule 3.701(d)(14) cannot be retroactively applied. Jackson v. State, 454 So. 2d 691 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); Randolph v. State, 458 So. 2d 64 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); Saunders v. State, 459 So. 2d 1119 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); Oldfield v. State, 468 So. 2d 446 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). Although a violation of probation is a permissible reason for departure from the guidelines, the trial court must in writing state that such is the reason for departure. Saunders, supra. However, in the case sub judice, the trial court did not state in writing its reason for departure. The fact that, at the time of the sentencing, all parties believed the amendment was in effect does not preclude an appeal from the sentence. The appellant is entitled to be sentenced under the guidelines in effect on April 13, 1984. Saunders, supra. A defendant does pot waive an appeal from a sentence imposed outside the guidelines by his failure to make a contemporaneous objection. State v. Rhoden, 448 So. 2d 1013 (Fla.1984); Mitchell v. State, 458 So. 2d 10 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). Accordingly, we must vacate appellant’s sentence and remand for resentencing under the guidelines in effect on April 13, 1984, with the direction that, if the trial court departs from the recommended guidelines sentence, he must set forth clear and convincing reasons in writing.

The State agrees that the order of revocation of probation lists violations for which no evidence was presented. We therefore direct that a corrected order of revocation of probation be entered, eliminating from the order all violations except the one charging that appellant was in the possession of cocaine on March 10, 1983.

Sentence vacated and remanded for re-sentencing, with directions.

MILLS and NIMMONS, JJ., and PEARSON, TILLMAN (Ret.), Associate Judge, concur. . Rule 3.701(d)(14), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, effective July 1, 1984, provides:

Sentences imposed after revocation of probation or community control must be in accordance with the guidelines. The sentence imposed after revocation of probation may be included within the original cell (guidelines range) or may be increased to the next higher cell (guidelines range) without requiring a reason for departure.

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Citator

Cited By

  • State v. Stubbs, 487 So. 2d 1072 (Fla. 1986)
    …OVERTON, Justice. This is a petition to review Stubbs v. State, 470 So. 2d 768 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985), which directly conflicts with our decision in State v. Jackson, 478 So. 2d 1054 (Fla.1985).* We quash the decision of the district court and remand with directions to apply Jackson. It is so ordered. BOYD, C.J., and ADKINS,…
  • Stubbs v. State, 487 So. 2d 1167 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)
    …WENTWORTH, Judge. The order revoking appellant’s probation is hereby amended, in accordance with Stubbs v. State, 470 So. 2d 768 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985), so as to eliminate all violations except the one charging that appellant was in the possession of cocaine on March 10, 1983. The sentence imposed is affirmed. ERVIN and JOANOS, JJ., concur.…

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