MCDONALD MCKENZIE, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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McDonald McKenzie appeals his convictions for attempted sexual battery and robbery. The appellate court affirmed the convictions but remanded for correction of the judgment to reflect that the attempted sexual battery conviction was a second-degree felony rather than first-degree.
1) The court affirmed on the competency issue without prejudice, noting that the absence of a record determination does not necessarily mean no determination was made. 2) The court affirmed the denial of the motion to suppress the victim's identification. 3) The court agreed that the judgment should be corrected to reflect that attempted sexual battery is a second-degree felony, not first-degree.
[1] A conviction will not be vacated solely because the appellate record lacks evidence of a competency hearing if the record does not affirmatively establish that no such de…
[2] A defendant may raise the issue of competency to stand trial in a motion for postconviction relief if the appellate record is insufficient to determine whether the issue…
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“we do not necessarily equate the absence in the record of such a determination with there having been no such determination”
The court clarifies that lack of documentation in the record regarding competency determination does not prove the determination was never made.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe defendant was charged with attempted sexual battery and robbery. Prior to trial, the defense counsel filed a suggestion of incompetency and the tr…
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LEHAN, Acting Chief Judge.
Defendant appeals his convictions for attempted sexual battery and robbery. We affirm the convictions but remand for correction of the judgment.
Prior to defendant’s trial, the trial court granted a motion by defense counsel for the appointment of an expert to determine defendant’s sanity at the time of the alleged offenses and his competency to stand trial. Several days later the trial court considered a suggestion of incompetency filed by defense counsel and entered an order which stated that the court had reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant was incompetent to stand trial. The order appointed two experts who were to examine defendant and file their written reports with the court.
Subsequently a new trial judge and a new assistant public defender were assigned to this case. The record contains no further reference to defendant’s sanity or competency, aside from a statement by the assistant state attorney during a pretrial bench conference that one of the continuances of the trial had been caused by the suggestion of incompetency filed by defense counsel. Upon request by the current defense counsel, the clerk of the cir cuit court has filed with this court a certificate stating that after a diligent search she has failed to find any orders, transcripts of hearings or medical reports concerning defendant’s competency or the appointment of the experts.
Defendant’s first contention on appeal is that his convictions should be vacated because the trial court erred in not conducting a hearing to determine defendant’s competency to stand trial. Defendant would be correct if the record established that no determination of competency had been made. However, we do not necessarily equate the absence in the record of such a determination with there having been no such determination. Cf. Montalvo v. State, 323 So. 2d 674 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975). Accordingly, we affirm on this issue without prejudice to this issue being raised in a motion pursuant to Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.850, which would allow the trial court to receive evidence, if necessary, and determine whether the issue had been addressed prior to trial.
Defendant’s second contention is that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the victim’s out-of-court and in-court identification of defendant. We disagree. See Grant v. State, 390 So. 2d 341 (Fla.1980); State v. Billue, 497 So. 2d 712, 714 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986).
As to defendant’s third contention, the state concedes that the judgment should be corrected to show that the conviction for attempted sexual battery is a second-degree, rather than a first-degree, felony.
The convictions and sentence are affirmed, but the cause is remanded for correction of the judgment as indicated above.
PATTERSON and ALTENBERND, JJ., concur.
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Citator
Authorities Cited
- Grant v. State, 390 So. 2d 341 (Fla. 1980)
- Montalvo v. State, 323 So. 2d 674 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975)
- State v. Billue, 497 So. 2d 712 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986)