RICKY EUGENE SHIVELY, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Shively was convicted of aggravated battery and sentenced under Florida's sentencing guidelines. The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded for a new trial, finding two reversible errors: the trial court improperly instructed the jury on flight over defense objection, and the sentencing violated the ex post facto clause by applying an amended guideline retroactively.
The flight instruction was reversible error because the evidence did not clearly establish that appellant's leaving the scene indicated an intent to avoid detection or capture; instead, it showed he left because he feared for his life, as evidenced by his immediate admission of the stabbing upon returning to the reception. The sentencing also violated the ex post facto clause by retroactively applying an amendment to the sentencing guidelines that was more onerous than the law in effect when the offense was committed.
[1] A jury instruction on flight is proper only when evidence clearly establishes that an accused fled the vicinity of a crime or took actions indicating an intent to avoid d…
[2] Leaving the scene of a crime and immediately returning to a public gathering to admit to the act negates an inference of intent to avoid detection or capture.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The flight of a person accused of a crime is a circumstance that may be considered by you with all the other testimony and circumstances, and should be given such weight as you consider proper.”
This is the exact jury instruction on flight that the trial court gave over defense counsel's objection, which the appellate court found to be reversible error.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceOn March 3, 1984, eighteen-year-old Shively attended a wedding reception and later went to his friend Eddie's apartment. In the parking lot, after a v…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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DAUKSCH, Judge.
This is an appeal from a conviction and sentence for aggravated battery. The question on appeal involves whether it was appropriate for the trial court to give, over defense counsel’s objection, the following instruction on flight:
The flight of a person accused of a crime is a circumstance that may be considered by you with all the other testimony and circumstances, and should be given such weight as you consider proper. The rule is when a suspected person in any manner endeavors to escape by flight, concealment, or other indication of a desire to evade prosecution, such may be shown in evidence as one of the, [sic] a series of circumstances from which guilt can be inferred.
Case law regarding flight instructions holds that a jury can be instructed on flight when the evidence clearly establishes that an accused fled the vicinity of a crime or did anything indicating an intent to avoid detection or capture. Williams v. State, 378 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980); Barnes v. State, 348 So. 2d 599 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977); Williams v. State, 268 So. 2d 566 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972).
We note that the most recent edition of Florida Standard Jury Instructions (Criminal) has dropped this instruction from its list of standard instructions.
However, Florida courts have continued to hold that, in appropriate circumstances, an instruction on flight is proper. See Bundy v. State, 471 So. 2d 9 (Fla.1985); Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985); Haywood v. State, 466 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985).
The facts of this case show that on March 3, 1984, appellant, an eighteen year old male, went to a wedding reception at a friend’s house. Another friend, Eddie, accompanied appellant to the reception. Several hours later appellant and Eddie walked to Eddie’s apartment which was a short distance from where the reception was held. On arriving at Eddie’s apartment complex, both men encountered a group of nine people in the parking lot most of whom had been drinking. As Eddie walked towards his apartment his downstairs neighbor, Ruth, called him a “heiffer.” Appellant responded by calling Ruth’s boyfriend a “punk” and “faggot.” Eddie and appellant went upstairs and appellant asked Eddie for a knife. Appellant then went downstairs and a verbal exchange between appellant and Bobby Knapp occurred. Knapp pushed appellant down, appellant pulled the knife, a struggle followed and Knapp was stabbed five times. Knapp fell to the ground, appellant ran into Eddie’s bedroom and locked himself inside.
Two of Knapp’s friends ran after appellant. One of the men, Tom, had a knife and was in the apartment. While standing at the bedroom door, Tom yelled “I’m going to kill him [appellant], I’m going to kill him.” Shortly thereafter, appellant jumped from the living room balcony and ran back to the wedding reception. Tom started running after appellant with the knife. Upon arriving at the reception, appellant was hysterical and admitted stabbing someone. Police were called and appellant was apprehended at the reception.
In Williams v. State, 378 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980) this court reversed a conviction for aggravated assault on the ground that the trial court erred in giving an instruction on flight. In that case, appellant was a passenger in a car when the driver picked up a hitchhiker who bought them all beer. Four hours later, an altercation between appellant and the hitchhiker occurred. Two sheriff’s deputies in separate cars noticed the hitchhiker yelling for help and they began chasing the car with their blue lights on but no sirens. After following the car for about a quarter of a mile, the deputies saw the hitchhiker jump or fall from the car. The deputies pursued the car an additional quarter of a mile before it stopped. The driver of the car testified that he slowed down after the victim fell and he immediately stopped the car when he noticed the deputies’ blue lights. In reversing this court held that evidence of flight was not established by the record and therefore the flight instruction was erroneously given.
Similarly, in Barnes v. State, 348 So. 2d 599 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977) the fourth district reversed a conviction for manslaughter and remanded for new trial. One of the errors alleged was that the court improperly gave an instruction on flight over objection. Appellant and deceased were observed each holding sticks and appellant was seen hitting the deceased with his stick. Appellant also kicked the deceased in the head. The deceased died from a brain hemorrhage. After the incident, appellant left the scene and walked home. Appellant was informed that police were looking for him but appellant stayed home claiming he acted in self defense. Appellant was later arrested by police at his home. The appellate court reversed the conviction stating the jury should not have been instructed on flight because there was no evidence presented indicating that appellant fled the scene or hid himself or did anything indicating he intended to avoid detection.
In the case at bar, as in Williams and Barnes, the evidence did not clearly establish that appellant’s leaving the scene of the crime indicated an intent on his part to avoid detection or capture. In fact, the evidence showed that appellant left Eddie’s apartment because he was fearful for his life. This conclusion is supported by the fact that appellant returned to the reception and immediately informed the people there that he had stabbed someone. Consequently, the trial court committed reversible error in giving the instruction on flight. Williams; Barnes.
We note that the trial judge also committed a sentencing error when he sentenced appellant, under the guidelines, to thirty months imprisonment and then placed him on probation for an additional ten years. The maximum incarceration period for appellant’s aggravated battery conviction under the guidelines was thirty months yet the judge relied on an amendment to the guidelines,1 not effective when the instant offense was committed, in placing appellant on probation. If a statute alters penal provisions by the grace of the legislature, it violates the ex post facto clause if it is both retrospective and more onerous than the law in effect on the date of the offense. Brown v. State, 460 So. 2d 427 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984) citing Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 101 S.Ct. 960, 965, 67 L.Ed.2d 17 (1981).
In this case the amendment is more onerous because the court is allowed to impose a maximum incarceration period under the guidelines and, at the same time, impose a probationary period up to the maximum term provided by general law. Brown; Miller v. State, 468 So. 2d 1018 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985); compare Mills v. State, 462 So. 2d 1075 (Fla.1985) and Powlowski v. State, 467 So. 2d 334 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985) (cases holding that a statutory change in the maximum retention period of a sentence for certain crimes does not violate the ex post facto clause).
The court’s application of the amendment in this case to appellant therefore violates the ex post facto clause. U.S. Const, art. I, § 10; Art. I, § 10, Fla. Const. REVERSED and REMANDED for new trial.
COBB, C.J., and SHARP, J., concur. . Rule 3.701(d)(12), Fla.R.Crim.P., provides:
Sentencing for separate offenses: A sentence must be imposed for each offense. However, the total sentence cannot exceed the total guidelines sentence unless a reason is given.
The committee note to Rule 3.701(d)(12) after the amendment provides:
If a split sentence is imposed ... the incarcer-ative portion imposed shall not be less than the minimum of the guideline range; nor exceed the maximum of the range. The total sanction (incarceration and probation) shall not exceed the term provided by general law.
The Florida Bar: Amendment to Rule of Criminal Procedure (3.701, 3.988 — Sentencing Guidelines), 451 So. 2d 824 (Fla. 1984). At the time the instant offense was committed, however, the committee note to Rule 3.701(d)(12) provided:
If a split sentence is imposed (i.e., a combination of state prison and probation supervision), the incarcerative portion imposed shall not be less than the minimum of the guideline range, and the total sanction imposed cannot exceed the maximum guidelines range, (emphasis added).
In Re Rules of Criminal Procedure (Sentencing Guidelines), 439 So. 2d 848 (Fla.1983).
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Feimster v. State, 491 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)…of the crime. We disagree. The rule is that “a jury can be instructed on flight when the evidence clearly establishes that an accused fled the vicinity of a crime or did anything indicating an intent to avoid detection or capture.” Shively v. State, 474 So. 2d 352, 353 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985); see also Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). Feimster’s flight from the scene and disposal of his weapon in the process, besides tending to rebut his contention that he fled because he feared for his life,…
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Payne v. State, 541 So. 2d 699 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989)…o. 2d 1331 (Fla.1986). The acts of locking the window and door are not reasonably characterized as evading prosecution or avoiding (as opposed to momentarily delaying). capture. Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985); Shively v. State, 474 So. 2d 352 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985). The instruction therefore should not have been given in the face of proper timely objection. The remaining arguments on appeal relate to alleged error in peremptory excusal of black veniremen, in delayed ruling on instruction a…
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Boylan v. State, 489 So. 2d 110 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986)…all not be less than the minimum of the guideline range, and the total sanction imposed cannot exceed the maximum guideline range. In Re Rules of Criminal Procedure (Sentencing Guidelines), 439 So. 2d 848, 852 (Fla.1983); see also Shively v. State, 474 So. 2d 352, 354 n. 1 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985). In Francis, the court had to decide whether community control should be viewed as incarceration or probation for the purposes of the rule. Holding that community control was more like probation and hence could be adde…
Previewing 3 of 4 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (13 total)
- Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24 (U.S. 1981)
- In re Rules of Criminal Procedure (sentencing Guidelines), 439 So. 2d 848 (Fla. 1983)
- Bundy v. State, 471 So. 2d 9 (Fla. 1985)
- THE Fla. BAR: Amendment to Rules of Crim. Procedure (3.701, 451 So. 2d 824 (Fla. 1984)
- Mills v. State, 462 So. 2d 1075 (Fla. 1985)
- Miller v. State, 468 So. 2d 1018 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985)
- Williams v. State, 268 So. 2d 566 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972)
- Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985)
- Williams v. State, 378 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980)
- Powlowski v. State, 467 So. 2d 334 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985)