HAROLD GERARD NOON, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Harold Noon appeals his conviction and 15-year sentence for cocaine trafficking, challenging his guilty plea entered pursuant to a plea bargain. The court reversed, finding the plea bargain was a nullity because it exceeded the state's statutory authority under Florida law by conditioning mitigation on assistance with crimes unrelated to the defendant's original accomplices.
The court held that good cause existed to permit withdrawal of the guilty plea. The plea bargain was a nullity because it exceeded the state's statutory authority—the statute permits mitigation recommendations only for assistance identifying accomplices, accessories, coconspirators or principals in the charged offense, not for assistance with unrelated criminal activity or becoming an informant for undetected crimes.
[1] A trial court must permit a defendant to withdraw a guilty plea upon a showing of good cause, even if the plea was entered pursuant to a plea bargain.
[2] A plea bargain agreement is a nullity if it does not comport with statutory authority.
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“Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.170(f) provides that the court may, in its discretion, and shall upon good cause, at any time before a sentence, permit a guilty plea to be withdrawn.”
Establishes the legal standard for withdrawal of guilty pleas requiring good cause.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceNoon entered a guilty plea to trafficking in 400+ grams of cocaine as part of a plea bargain agreement with the state. The agreement promised sentence…
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DOWNEY, Judge.
Noon has perfected this appeal from a judgment of conviction and sentence consisting of fifteen years in prison and a twenty-five thousand dollar fine, for the offense of trafficking in four hundred grams or more of cocaine. He seeks to reverse the judgment and sentence because the trial court denied his motion to withdraw his guilty plea entered pursuant to a plea bargain that also involved an agreement with the state as provided in section 893.135(3), Florida Statutes (1983).
In conjunction with entry of his guilty plea, Noon and the state entered into a written contract in which it was agreed that, if Noon provided the state with substantial assistance in accomplishing the goals provided in the statute, “or any other substantial assistance that the Office of the State Attorney deems appropriate,” the state would recommend certain mitigated sentences. A footnote to the agreement indicated that for assistance in recovering certain quantities of cocaine, methaqualones, or marijuana, Noon would receive certain reduced sentences. Thereafter, Noon attempted to render the substantial assistance required by setting up several drug transactions.
However, the quantities specified were not obtained, due in part to the law enforcement people failing to assist Noon after he had set up a major cocaine deal.
After two continuances of the sentencing date, when it appeared he had been unable to convince the state he had rendered substantial assistance, Noon sought to withdraw his guilty plea. In support of that motion, Noon contended he had tried to render assistance but the police would not cooperate with him. Furthermore, he claimed the agreement was one-sided — the state held all the cards and he had to play the game the state’s way. After hearing all sides, the trial court refused to allow Noon to withdraw his plea and sentence was imposed.
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.170(f) provides that the court may, in its discretion, and shall upon good cause, at any time before a sentence, permit a guilty plea to be withdrawn. We believe good cause was shown here requiring the trial court to allow withdrawal of the plea. As in the case of Waseleski v. State, 429 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983), there was some evidence that the state’s conduct was dilatory and helped to prevent Noon from fulfilling his part of the bargain.
Furthermore, Noon was requested to become an informant with regard to crimes as yet undetected and to set up new cases for the police. The legislature has not given the state the right to enter into such a plea bargain.
Section 893.135(3) provides that the state may move for mitigation of sentence for one who provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest or conviction of any of his accomplices, accessories, coconspirators or principals. There is apparently no authority for the state to recommend mitigation for substantial assistance in regard to other criminal activity. As in Campbell v. State, 453 So. 2d 525, 526 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984), “[s]ince the bargain between the State and defendant did not comport with the statute, there was no legal basis for it, and thus the plea bargain was a nullity.”
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment and sentence appealed from and remand the cause with directions to allow Noon to withdraw his guilty plea, and for further proceedings.
REVERSED AND REMANDED with directions.
LETTS and WALDEN, JJ., concur.
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Domingo Antonio Madrigal v. State, 545 So. 2d 392 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)…tes (1985),1 the prosecution is statutorily authorized to waive the minimum mandatory sentence only when the defendant assists in the prosecution of co-participants [*394] in the narcotics case with which he is charged. On this basis, Noon v. State, 480 So. 2d 668 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985) and Campbell v. State, 453 So. 2d 525 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984) specifically held that an agreement for waiver of the mandatory sentence in exchange for cooperation in a non -narcotics case, as here, could not be enforced and that the…1 / 2
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Cunningham v. State, 481 So. 2d 72 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985)…recisely what the agreements were; whether there has been a breach; and to what relief, including plea withdrawal, the appellant may be entitled, assuming the agreements are invalidated or found to have been breached by the state. Cf. Noon v. State, 480 So. 2d 668 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985).…
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Mack v. State, 504 So. 2d 1252 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)…t guilty plea. Compare Campbell v. State, 453 So. 2d 525 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984) (held that trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion to withdraw guilty plea negotiated under erroneous interpretation of Section 893.135(3)); see also Noon v. State, 480 So. 2d 668 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986). At no time has appellant sought to withdraw his plea of guilty. AFFIRMED. JOANOS and THOMPSON, JJ„ concur. . Section 893.135(3) provides: (3) The state attorney may move the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence…
Previewing 3 of 7 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Campbell v. State, 453 So. 2d 525 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984)
- State v. Ochran, 429 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983)
- Waseleski v. State, 429 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983)