J.M., A CHILD, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 1988-12-30
No. 87-3238
Schoonover, A.C.J., Frank, J., Hall, J.
536 So. 2d 1165 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1988) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

Juvenile court's adjudication of delinquency for armed robbery was affirmed, but the court erred in adjudicating the child delinquent for both armed robbery and petit theft based on a single act, violating double jeopardy protections.


Holding

A child cannot be adjudicated delinquent for multiple offenses arising from a single act because the constitutional protection against double jeopardy prohibits multiple punishment for one act.


Headnotes

[1] The constitutional protection against double jeopardy prohibits adjudicating a juvenile delinquent for multiple offenses arising from a single act.

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Facts & Procedural History

J.M., a juvenile, was charged with armed robbery and petit theft. The juvenile court found him guilty of both offenses based on the same conduct and a…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM. '

PER CURIAM. '

The appellant, J.M., appeals a juvenile court order adjudicating him a delinquent child based upon a finding that he committed armed robbery and petit theft.

The state filed a petition alleging that the appellant was a delinquent child because he committed armed robbery and petit theft. At the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing, the court found that the appellant had committed the offenses and adjudicated him a delinquent. The court suspended the appellant’s commitment and placed him on community control. This timely appeal followed.

Although we find no merit in the appellant’s contention that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the court’s finding that he had committed an offense, we agree that the court erred in finding that he committed both offenses. The constitutional protection against double jeopardy prohibits multiple punishment for a single act. Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161 (Fla. 1987). Since it is undisputed that both the armed robbery and petit theft charges were based on a single act, the appellant could only be adjudicated a delinquent child for the armed robbery. See State v. Barton, 523 So. 2d 152 (Fla.1988). We, accordingly, affirm the adjudication of delinquency, but remand for the entry of an amended order indicating that the adjudication is based only upon the armed robbery offense.

AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

SCHOONOVER, A.C.J., and FRANK and HALL, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • R.M. v. State, 541 So. 2d 688 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989)
    …PARKER, Judge. Appellant correctly points out that his adjudication of delinquency for both armed robbery and petit theft arising from a single act is a violation of the protection against double jeopardy. See J.M. v. State, 536 So. 2d 1165 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988), citing Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161 (Fla.1987). We reverse the adjudication of delinquency only as it pertains to the petit theft and remand for the trial court to correct the delinquency order to so reflect. We find no mer…

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