ERICA BLACK
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA
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Erica Black pleaded no contest to two felonies with the understanding that her total prison sentence would not exceed ten years, but the trial court sentenced her to consecutive sentences totaling fifteen years of imprisonment without clarifying whether the sentences would run concurrently or consecutively. The appellate court reversed and remanded, finding that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences without first notifying Black of this intention and allowing her to withdraw her plea.
The trial court erred by imposing consecutive sentences that exceeded Black's understood maximum prison sentence without first notifying her and allowing her the opportunity to withdraw her plea. The sentences are vacated and the case is remanded for further proceedings.
[1] A defendant may withdraw a plea of no contest if the trial court imposes a sentence that exceeds the defendant's reasonable understanding of the plea agreement.
[2] A defendant's motion to withdraw a plea is supportable when confusion exists regarding whether sentences will run concurrently or consecutively, and the defendant did not…
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“Black understood that her sentences on the two charges would run concurrently, thereby not exceeding ten years in total.”
Establishes Black's understanding at the time of her plea regarding the cap on her total prison sentence.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceBlack was charged with aggravated battery (first-degree felony) and animal cruelty (third-degree felony) in separate cases. She entered an open plea o…
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FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA
Case Nos. 5D2023-3147 5D2023-3151 LT Case Nos. 2022-CF-040589-A 2023-CF-038598-A
ERICA BLACK,
Appellant,
v. STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
On appeal from the Circuit Court for Brevard County. Stephen G. Henderson, Judge.
Matthew J. Metz, Public Defender, and Darnelle Paige Lawshe, Assistant Public Defender, Daytona Beach, for Appellant.
James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Rebecca Rock McGuigan, Bureau Chief, Daytona Beach, for Appellee.
February 28, 2025
PER CURIAM.
Erica Black was separately charged for two separate crimes— aggravated battery, a first-degree felony, in Case No. 2022-CF-038598-A, and animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, in Case No. 2022-CF-040589-A. Black entered an open plea of no contest at her plea hearing with the understanding that a ten-year prison cap would apply and that the addition of a probationary period beyond the cap might extend the sentence. For example, if she was sentenced to ten years of prison followed by five years of probation, her sentence would be fifteen years.
The trial court sentenced Black to ten years of imprisonment followed by ten years of probation in the aggravated battery case and five years of imprisonment in the animal cruelty case. Black's counsel asked whether the sentences were to run consecutively, to which the trial judge responded, “Yes, sir.”
Black moved to withdraw her plea, claiming she “was confused at the time of the entry of her plea as to what she could be sentenced to in these cases,” believing that her "total prison exposure for the global pleas would be a maximum of 10 years in prison." Stated differently, Black understood that her sentences on the two charges would run concurrently, thereby not exceeding ten years in total. The trial court denied the motion leading to Black's appeals.
A review of the record reflects that confusion existed as to whether Black's sentences would be concurrent (and thereby within the ten-year cap) or consecutive (and thereby beyond the cap). Nothing in the record establishes that Black understood this difference at the time of sentencing; indeed, she moved soon thereafter to withdraw her plea on this basis. As such, Black's motion to withdraw her plea was supportable. See Orr v. State, 402 So. 2d 535, 535–36 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981) (finding “it was error for the trial court to sentence [appellant] to consecutive sentences without first notifying [appellant] that the trial court was going to do so and allowing [appellant] the opportunity to withdraw his plea” where statements made at the plea hearing reflected that the plea agreement was set for appellant to receive a maximum prison sentence and appellant's consecutive sentences exceeded that maximum sentence).
For this reason, the sentences imposed are vacated and remanded for further proceedings.
MAKAR, HARRIS, and KILBANE, JJ., concur. Not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or 9.331.
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