LEE ARTHUR GALE, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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The court held that a prosecutor's comment on a defendant's knowledge of the criminal justice system, inferred from prior felony conviction, was permissible, but the trial court's retention of jurisdiction over the first one-third of the sentence was improper.
[1] A prosecutor may comment on the credibility of an accused who testifies, provided the comments are confined to facts established by the record or reasonably inferable the…
[2] A trial court's departure from recommended sentencing guidelines is permissible if supported by a sufficient number of valid reasons, even if some invalid reasons were al…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGale was convicted of burglary, robbery, and sexual battery. During closing arguments, the prosecutor commented on Gale being a "convicted felon" who …
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McCORD, GUYTE P., Jr. (Ret.), Associate Judge.
Gale appeals his convictions for burglary of a dwelling while armed robbery, sexual battery with a deadly weapon, and sexual battery by use of force. It is his contention that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial based upon the allegedly prejudicial comments of the prosecutor, in departing from the sentence recommended for him under the guidelines, and in retaining jurisdiction over the first one-third of his sentence. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
On cross-examination, Gale conceded that he had earlier been convicted of a felony. Thereafter, during closing argument, the prosecutor stated to the jury:
First of all, Lee Arthur Gale is a convicted felon. He admitted to it on the stand. He knows the ropes. He knows what could happen to him in this situation. And if he’s convicted, he has a lot to lose. And that is an interest.... [Emphasis added.]
At this point, Gale’s attorney objected and moved for a mistrial. The motion was denied.
The recommended guidelines sentence range was for 12 to 15 years, however, Gale received a sentence of 150 years, which breaks down as follows: 60 years on armed burglary, 15 years on robbery, 60 years on sexual battery by use of a deadly weapon and 15 years on the charge of sexual battery by slight force. The trial judge, in a comprehensive sentencing order, set forth a number of reasons for his departure. They can be briefly paraphrased and summarized as follows:
1. The guidelines sentence was not commensurate with the seriousness of the convicted offenses.
2. Appellant committed the instant offense within one month of the commission of a similarly vile offense indicating disregard on Appellant’s part for the consequences of his actions in terms of their effect upon the victims and the law in general.
3. The outrageous nature and circumstances of the offenses for which Appellant stands convicted herein.
4. The trauma associated with Appellant’s conduct sub judice.
5. Appellant showed no remorse for his crimes.
6. Appellant’s conduct while incarcerated within the county jail.
7. Appellant’s juvenile record evidencing a disrespect for authority.
8. Appellant presents a clear and present danger to others both in and out of prison — the prison system being in a better position to protect itself than society.
Turning to the first issue on appeal, it is well settled that a prosecutor may legitimately comment upon the credibility of an accused who chooses to testify so long as he confines his argument to those facts which are established by the record or which may be reasonably inferred. Fitzgerald v. State, 227 So. 2d 45 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969). In the present case, the prosecutorial statement that Gale “knows the ropes” could have reasonably been inferred from his previous encounter with the criminal justice system which he admitted on the stand. Therefore, we find no error. As to the trial judge’s departure from the sentence recommended under the guidelines, we find that of the eight justifications listed five may be validly relied upon. The fifth reason, lack of remorse, has repeatedly been held invalid. Sarvis v. State, 465 So. 2d 573 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). Likewise, reason eight must be found invalid. Burch v. State, 462 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). The sixth reason, Gale’s conduct while incarcerated in the county jail and awaiting sentencing, is rendered invalid by Rule 3.701(d)(ll), Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, as there is no record evidence that he was charged and convicted for any of the offenses alleged.
Having concluded that both valid and invalid justifications were relied upon for departure, it must be decided whether the standard announced in Albritton v. State, 476 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985), has been met. We find that it has. The trial court’s reliance on a significant number of valid reasons and the abundant evidence supporting the particulars of these valid reasons leaves this court with no reasonable doubt that the sentences given to Gale would have been the same had the trial court not considered the improper factors.
Where, as here, the trial judge has retained jurisdiction over the first one-third of the sentences imposed under the guidelines, the retention must be set aside. Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). There the court reasoned that because parole is no longer available under the guidelines there is no purpose to be served by the trial judge’s retention of jurisdiction over the defendant's sentence.
Accordingly, we reverse as to the trial court’s retention of jurisdiction but affirm the convictions in all other respects.
ERVIN and WIGGINTON, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Poore v. State, 503 So. 2d 1282 (Fla. 5th DCA 1987)…departure upward from the presumptive sentence. . Fla.R.Cr.P. 3.701. . See Scott v. State, 482 So. 2d 607 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986), Clark v. State, 481 So. 2d 994 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986), Boldes v. State, 475 So. 2d 1356 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985), Gale v. State, 483 So. 2d 53 (Fla. 1st DCA), review denied, 492 So. 2d 1332 (Fla.1986). . §§ 948.03, 948.01(3), Fla.Stat. (1983). . § 948.01(8), Fla.Stat. (1983). . The court in Crosby reversed the sentence on other grounds: (1) the written sentence did not conform to the or…
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Brown v. State, 488 So. 2d 641 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986)…by itself to justify departure. Finally, the court’s statement that appellant “is remorseful only for the sentence he is receiving” is not a clear and convincing reason for departure. See State v. Mischler, 488 So. 2d 523 (Fla.1986); Gale v. State, 483 So. 2d 53 (Fla. 1st [*643] DCA 1986); Parker v. State, 481 So. 2d 560 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986); Kossow v. State, 468 So. 2d 1104 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985). Accordingly, we vacate appellant’s sentence and remand for resentencing within the guidelines. GRIMES, A.C.J., an…
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Bailey v. State, 492 So. 2d 738 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)…y be considered a valid justification for departure to the extent that they describe unscored circumstances surrounding the crime and indicate excessive force and cruelty, Mincey v. State, 460 So. 2d 396 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). See also, Gale v. State, 483 So. 2d 53 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986); Davis v. State, 489 So. 2d 754 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986), on motion for rehearing, at 757. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth reasons are invalid. To the extent that the third reason evinces “a depraved mind regardless of human life”…
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- City OF Atl. Beach v. Bull, 476 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 1985)
- Albritton v. State, 476 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 1985)
- Burch v. State, 462 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985)
- Fitzgerald v. State, 227 So. 2d 45 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969)
- Smith v. State, 465 So. 2d 573 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985)
- Bradley v. State, 468 So. 2d 378 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985)