STATE OF FLORIDA, PETITIONER,
v.
WEBSTER FLEMING MCKINNON, RESPONDENT; WEBSTER FLEMING MCKINNON, PETITIONER, V. STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENT; WEBSTER FLEMING MCKINNON, PETITIONER, V. STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENT
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The Florida Supreme Court addressed whether a trial court loses jurisdiction to resentence a defendant when a petition for review is pending before the Supreme Court. The Court held that it does not, unless a stay of mandate is sought. The Court also determined that a manslaughter conviction could not be enhanced based on a separate firearm conviction.
1. No, the trial court does not lose jurisdiction to resentence during the pendency of a petition for review unless a stay of mandate is sought from the Supreme Court. 2. No, the reclassification of the manslaughter conviction was improper because the jury did not specifically find that a firearm was used in the commission of the manslaughter; a conviction on a separate firearm count cannot be used to infer this finding for enhancement purposes.
[1] A trial court retains jurisdiction to resentence a defendant pursuant to a district court's mandate reversing and remanding the cause for resentencing, even during the pe…
[2] A conviction on one count in an information may not be used to enhance punishment for a conviction on another count.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“DOES THE PENDENCY OF A PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DEPRIVE THE TRIAL COURT OF JURISDICTION TO RESENTENCE A DEFENDANT PURSUANT TO THE DISTRICT COURT’S MANDATE REVERSING AND REMANDING THE CAUSE FOR RESEN-TENCING?”
The certified question presented to the Florida Supreme Court.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceWebster McKinnon was convicted of manslaughter and using a firearm during a felony. The trial court enhanced the manslaughter conviction to a first-de…
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KOGAN, Justice.
Both Webster McKinnon and the state petition this Court to review the First District Court of Appeal’s opinion in McKinnon v. State, 523 So. 2d 1238 (Fla.1st DCA 1988). We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const. In addition, the district court certified the following question of great public importance:
DOES THE PENDENCY OF A PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DEPRIVE THE TRIAL COURT OF JURISDICTION TO RESENTENCE A DEFENDANT PURSUANT TO THE DISTRICT COURT’S MANDATE REVERSING AND REMANDING THE CAUSE FOR RESEN-TENCING?
McKinnon v. State, 530 So. 2d 1101, 1102 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. Webster McKinnon was charged with second-degree murder (count I) and display or use of a firearm during the commission of a felony (count II) for the shooting death of a patron at a bar that is owned and operated by McKinnon. As to count I, the jury convicted McKinnon of the lesser included offense of manslaughter and, as to count II, of display or use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The verdict form as to count I contained no mention of whether the manslaughter was committed with the use of a firearm.
The trial court, over McKinnon’s objection, enhanced the manslaughter count, a second-degree felony, to a first-degree felony pursuant to section 775.087(1)(b), Florida Statutes (1985).
That statute permits such a reclassification when the jury finds that a defendant has committed a crime using a weapon or firearm. Although the jury did not specifically state on its verdict form in count I that McKinnon had used a firearm during the commission of the manslaughter, the trial court used the firearms conviction in count II as proof that the jury had made the factual finding necessary for enhancement to a first-degree felony.1 The district court affirmed the reclassification of the manslaughter as a first-degree felony, but vacated the firearms conviction on count II2 and remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing pursuant to that holding. Prior to resentencing both parties petitioned this Court to review the district court opinion.
The trial court, pursuant to the district court mandate, then resentenced McKinnon.
Following resentencing the state moved to vacate the new sentence claiming the trial court lacked jurisdiction during the pendency of the petition for review in the Florida Supreme Court. The trial court granted the motion and McKinnon appealed that order to the district court, which dismissed the appeal, certifying the previously stated question to this Court.
Addressing the certified question first, we hold that a party desiring a stay of mandate during the pendency of a petition for review in this Court, must apply to this Court for a stay, in accordance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130. Otherwise the parties and the trial court must comply with the district court mandate. Accordingly, we answer the certified question in the negative.
Turning to the substantive issue presented to us, we must determine whether the reclassification of the manslaughter conviction as a first-degree felony was proper. Disposition of this issue turns on whether there was sufficient finding that the manslaughter was committed with a firearm. As noted above, the jury did not, in its verdict form as to count I, specifically find that the manslaughter was committed with a firearm. It was only in count II that McKinnon was found guilty of having displayed or used a firearm during the commission of a felony. See Peck v. State, 425 So. 2d 664 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983).
It appears that the trial court inferred the requisite finding of the use or display of a firearm from the conviction on the second count of the indictment. This inference is not proper. Conviction on one count in an information may not be used to enhance punishment for a conviction on another count. Blackwelder v. State, 476 So. 2d 280, 281 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985); see also Co-chenet v. State, 445 So. 2d 398 (Fla. 5th DCA), review denied, 453 So. 2d 45 (Fla.1984).
Therefore the reclassification of the manslaughter conviction as a first-degree felony cannot stand.
Because the manslaughter conviction may not be enhanced pursuant to section 775.087(1)(b), the conviction on the firearms count does not run afoul of our decision in Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161 (Fla.1987). Accordingly, we quash the district court opinion in McKinnon v. State, 523 So. 2d 1238 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). In so doing, we uphold and reinstate the firearms conviction, but vacate the sentence on the manslaughter count. Furthermore, we quash the order of the district court in McKinnon v. State, 530 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). We remand these causes to the district court of appeal for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
EHRLICH, C.J., and OVERTON, McDonald, SHAW, BARKETT and GRIMES, JJ., concur. . Generally, when enhancement under section 775.087, Florida Statutes (1985) is possible, the verdict form to be completed by the jury contains, after the guilty verdict on the count, a box the jury must check if it finds that particular crime was committed with the use of a firearm. In this case, despite the conviction in count II (use of a firearm), the jury did not make this requisite finding with regard to count I (manslaughter).
. Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161 (Fla.1987).
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Sanders v. State, 621 So. 2d 723 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993)…l, which was decided just before Sanders’ appeal became final, would have been available to argue the aggravated assault was necessarily included in the armed robbery offense. . See Cleveland v. State, 587 So. 2d 1145 (Fla.1991); State v. McKinnon, 540 So. 2d 111 (Fla.1989); Hall v. State, 517 So. 2d 678 (Fla.1988); Benedit v. State, 610 So. 2d 699 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); Galban v. State, 605 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); Pearson v. State, 603 So. 2d 676 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); Davis v. State, 590 So. 2d 496 (Fla.…
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Gibbs v. State, 623 So. 2d 551 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993)…use of a firearm is fundamental error. Helmick v. State, 569 So. 2d 869, 870 (Fla. 2d DCA1990). Moreover, the state cannot use the allegation of use of a firearm in another count of the information to support an enhancement. Id.; State v. McKinnon, 540 So. 2d 111, 113 (Fla.1989). Accordingly, we reverse the conviction for armed kidnapping and remand with direction to enter judgment for kidnapping and to resentence appellant in accordance with section 787.01(2), Florida Statutes (1989). IV We affirm appella…
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Bryant v. State, 744 So. 2d 1225 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)…hough Count II charged appellant with shooting into an occupied building, the state cannot use allegations of use of a firearm in another count of the information to support imposition of the mandatory minimum term on Count I. See State v. McKinnon, 540 So. 2d 111 (Fla.1989), receded from on other grounds by, State v. Roberts, 661 So. 2d 821 (Fla.1995); Helmick v. State, 569 So. 2d 869 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990). The state argues that the imposition of the mandatory minimum sentence is appropriate based on the supre…
Previewing 3 of 24 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Dion Michael Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161 (Fla. 1987)
- Webster F. McKINNON v. State, 523 So. 2d 1238 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988)
- Blackwelder v. State, 476 So. 2d 280 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985)
- Cochenet v. State, 445 So. 2d 398 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984)
- Peck v. State, 425 So. 2d 664 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983)
- Jervis v. Fla. Power Corp., 530 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988)
- Jeffers v. State, 530 So. 2d 1101 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988)